Outer Space Treaty (OST)

Outer Space Treaty (OST)

Formal Title: TREATY ON PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF STATES IN THE EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE, INCLUDING THE MOON AND OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES

Summary:

The Outer Space Treaty (OST) was the second of the so-called "nonarmament" treaties; its concepts and some of its provisions were modeled on its predecessor, the Antarctic Treaty. Members of the treaty agree not to place in orbit, install on the moon or any other celestial body, or otherwise station in space, nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. The OST also limits the use of the moon and other celestial bodies exclusively to peaceful purposes and prohibits their use for establishing military installations or fortifications; testing weapons; or conducting military maneuvers.

The OST entered into force on 10 October 1967.

For additional in-depth information, please consult the Inventory of Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes, which can be found on the CNS website at: http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/.

China and the OST:

China is a member of the OST, having acceded to the Treaty on 30 December 1983.

[Sources: Roland M. Timerbaev and Meggen M. Watt, Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes, 1995 edition, p. 53; Walter C. Clemens, Jr., "China," in Richard Dean Burns, ed., Encyclopedia of Arms Control and Disarmament, Vol. 1, p. 67]

For more on China and the OST, as well as other outer space issues, see:

[TEXT OF OUTER SPACE TREATY (OST)]

[CHINA AND THE COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE (COPUOS)]

[CHINA'S ATTITUDE TOWARD OUTER SPACE/SPACE WEAPONS]

[CHRONOLOGY OF OUTER SPACE/SPACE WEAPON-RELATED STATEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS]

For more information on China and non-armament treaties, see the following pages:

[CHINA AND THE SEABED ARMS CONTROL TREATY]

[CHINA AND THE ANTARCTIC TREATY]

[CHINA AND NUCLEAR WEAPON FREE ZONES (NWFZ)]