Legal Issues Concerning The Peaceful Use Of Outer Space

Since the 20 th century, there has been a rapid progress in the development of science and technology. This is accompanied by the rapid development of aviation industry, and the deepened exploitation and utilization of outer space by the mankind. Along with more human activities in outer space, many countries are trying to seize the resources and to carry out arms race in outer space. The development and utilization of outer space are moving towards the direction of militarization and weaponization. However, peace and development are the themes of the times, and it is the basic principle of International Space Law to make peaceful uses of the outer space. To ensure a peaceful use of the outer space, a series of outer space laws and regulations has been made with the United Nations as the leading organization, including the 1966 Outer Space Treaty, the 1968 Rescue Agreement, the 1978 Liability Convention, the 1975 Registration Convention, and the 1967 Moon Agreement, at the same time, the United Nations Committee on the peaceful use of outer space was established. These measures have positively facilitated the development of aviation industry and the peaceful use of outer space, and have briefly described the international responsibilities of countries using outer space, which has in some sense effectively regulated the space industry.With the further development of science, technology and economy, the scope of space activities has changed greatly, thus many regulations are not appropriate for the current situations. Furthermore, most regulations in International Space Law are too abstract and simple, and most are principle stipulations, which are not enforceable; Different countries have different ideas and positions on the development and utilization of outer space, which has hampered the development of the already fragile International Space Law; Due to the unbalance of technology and economic strength between developing and developed countries, it seems like the outer space is privately owned by technological power and economic power.Outer space is the common property of all mankind, and the development and utilization of outer space is the common cause of the mankind. This paper aims to find the problems hampering the peaceful use of outer space through investigating into the commercialization and militarization showing in the current use of outer space. At the same time, through analysis of the existing laws and regulations on the peaceful uses of outer space, and based on the new trend of regulations on the peaceful use of outer space---Long-term Sustainable Development of Outer Space Activities(LTS) and the legalization of self-defence in outer space, the paper systematically described some important legal issues on the peaceful use of outer space, and proposed suggestions on how to ensure a peaceful and orderly use of outer space under the existing situation of militarization of outer space.