Outer Space Treaty (OST), 1967
The Outer Space Treaty, formally the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, was opened for signature on 27 January 1967 and entered into force on 10 October 1967. It is the foundational multilateral instrument of international space law, with over 110 states parties. It established space as the "province of all mankind" and created a framework for peaceful use.
- Article I: Outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all states without discrimination, on a basis of equality.
- Article II: Outer space, including the Moon and celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by use or occupation, or by any other means.
- Article IV: States are prohibited from placing nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in Earth orbit, on the Moon, or elsewhere in space; the Moon and celestial bodies are reserved exclusively for peaceful purposes. Critically, the treaty does not ban conventional weapons in orbit, creating the legal gap exploited by dual-use military satellites.
- India signed the OST in March 1967 and the Indian Parliament ratified it in 1982.
● Tracked since April 21, 2026 · last seen September 19, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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