For a Charter on Space as a Common Good
- Paper number
IAC-06-E6.5.05
- Author
Ms. Mélanie Vincent, Université Paris 11, France
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Whereas outer space is becoming the arena of technological and commercial challenges; whereas gold from asteroids, magnesium, cobalt, uranium from Mars or again helium-3 and water from the moon may soon become, or are already becoming, objects of greed and conflict, it may now seem appropriate, in order to avoid the hegemony of any power whatsoever, to pit a humanistic vision against a purely mercantile one. Indeed, several important powers have refused to ratify the 1979 “Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.” This raises the question of an alternative which should be both realistic and acceptable by all. A charter rather than a treaty could be the answer. Drafting a charter—a kind of Code of good behaviour—for the use of space would enable mankind to take into account the technological and commercial evolution of the world while respecting the principles of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and keeping any physical or moral person from any wish of appropriation regarding space. This charter would be less constricting for the commercial planning of advanced nations than any international space legislation and would make it possible to channel space activities for the welfare and in the interest of each and every country, the basic condition for a pacific approach. Two central problems have to be dealt with: (1) the contents of that charter; (2) how to obtain acceptance from the great powers involved. Once established and accepted, the charter ought to be present in every textbook of every school in the world, so as to teach children—all of them citizens-to-be—that space is their common good.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E6.5.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.