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9 J. Space L. 31 (1981)
International Space Law and Domestic Law: Problems of Interrelations

handle is hein.journals/jrlsl9 and id is 37 raw text is: INTERNATIONAL SPACE LAW AND DOMESTIC LAW: PROBLEMS OF INTERRELATIONS V. S. Vereshchetin 1. Interaction of International Space Law and Domestic Law in Space and Time The activities associated with the exploration and use of outer space are carried on not only in outer space proper, but also on the Earth. While these activities such as the development of facilities of rocket-space technology along with launching sites and operations related to the launching of space vehicles take place within the confines of a state territory they are governed, in the main, by the rules of national law. Upon emerging into outer space, these activities come, primarily, under the rules of international space law. This geographical delimitation of the spheres of operation of national law and international space law, however, is valid only to the extent to which we can speak about a predomination of one or another system of law. International space law regulates the relationships among states and among other subjects of international law in connection with their activities in outer space not only subject to the place of the said activities, but also subject to their nature and time of performance. A combination of the three mentioned factors, namely place, nature and time, directly influences the sphere of operation of definite rules of international space law. Thus, the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty' in Article IV, prohibiting any military activity on the moon and other celestial bodies, strictly determine the place and nature of the activity. The obligation, provided for under Article IX, to avoid harmful contamination of outer space and celestial bodies and adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter is primarily associated with the nature of activities both on the earth and in outer space. Operations related to the rescue and return of cosmonauts in distress and recovery of space objects regulated by the Rescue Agreement2 provide for the activity on the Earth. Space objects come under international space law, as a rule, beginning with their launching into outer space. Thus, we see that rules of international space law are space, function and time oriented and are designed for application not only in outer space but in aerospace and on the surface of the Earth. Naturally, when these rules are to be applied on a territory LL.D., Vice-Chairman of Intercosmos, Moscow. 'Treaty on Principles Governing Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, January 27, 1967, 18 UST 2410, T.I.A.S. 6347, 610 U.N.T.S. 205. (effective Oct. 10, 1967). For the Russian text, see: Reports of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., 1967, No. 44, at 588 (hereinafter cited as the Outer Space Treaty). 2The Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, April 22, 1968, 19 U.S.T. 7570, T.I.A.S. 6599, 672 U.N.T.S. 119 (effective Dec. 3, 1968). For the Russian text, see: Reports of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., 1969, No. 6 at 31 (hereinafter cited as the Rescue and Return Agreement).

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