CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY SPACE OBJECTS - SCI & TECH
News:
ISRO rocket debris in
Australia: rules governing space junk
What's
in the news?
●
A large object found on the shores of
western Australia a couple of weeks ago has been confirmed to be the debris of
an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rocket, the Australian Space
Agency.
Convention
on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects:
●
The Convention on International Liability
for Damage Caused by Space Objects, often referred to as the Liability Convention, is indeed an
important international treaty in the field of space law.
Objective:
●
The main purpose of the convention is to
provide a legal framework for dealing with liability arising from damage caused by space objects on Earth's
surface or in outer space.
Adoption
of the treaty:
●
The Liability Convention was adopted on
March 29, 1972, and it became effective on September 1, 1972.
●
It
is one of the 5 UN treaties that pertain to space law.
Liability
of launching states:
●
The convention holds the launching state
(internationally liable for any damage caused by its space objects on Earth's
surface or to aircraft in flight.
Application:
●
The convention applies to both governmental and non-governmental
entities involved in launching space objects.
Strict
liability:
●
It establishes strict liability for the
launching state, meaning that it is held responsible for damages caused by its
space object regardless of fault or
negligence.
Limitation
of liability:
●
The liability of the launching state is
subject to a limitation.
●
The cap was set at 60 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), a monetary unit used by
the International Monetary Fund.
Liability
for unauthorized launches:
●
Even if a space object is owned by a
private entity or a state that did not authorize the launch, the launching
state is still liable unless it can demonstrate that it was not at fault.
Scope
of application:
●
It deals specifically with damage caused
by space objects to the Earth's surface and aircraft in flight.
●
For damage to other space objects or
personnel on space objects, liability is governed by the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.