Agreement on Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies

Adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 1979.

States Parties to this Agreement,

Noting the achievements made by various countries in the exploration and utilization of the moon and other celestial bodies,

Recognizing that the moon is a natural satellite of the earth and plays an important role in exploring outer space,

Determined to promote the further development of cooperation among countries in the exploration and use of the moon and other celestial bodies on the basis of equality,

I don't want the moon to become a place of international conflict.

Bearing in mind the possible benefits of developing the natural resources of the moon and other celestial bodies,

Recalling the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, the Agreement on the Rescue and Return of Astronauts and the Return of Entities Launched into Outer Space, the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space,

Considering that the provisions of these international instruments on the moon and other celestial bodies must be interpreted and developed in the light of the continuous progress in the exploration and use of outer space,

Agree as follows:

Article 1

1. The provisions on the moon in this Agreement are also applicable to other celestial bodies in the solar system except the Earth, unless there are special existing legal rules for any such celestial bodies.

2. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "moon" includes an orbit around the moon or other orbits flying to or around the moon.

3. This agreement does not apply to alien substances that reach the surface of the earth by natural means.

the second

All activities on the moon, including its exploration and utilization, should be carried out in accordance with the provisions of international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations, taking into account the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning the Establishment of Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations adopted by the General Assembly on 24 October, taking into account the interests of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation and mutual understanding, and giving due consideration to the interests of all other States parties.

Article

1. All States parties should use the moon exclusively for peaceful purposes.

2. It is forbidden to use force or threaten to use force on the moon, or to engage in any other hostile acts or threaten to use hostile acts. It is also prohibited to use the moon to commit any such acts or make any such threats against the personnel of the Earth, the moon, spacecraft, spacecraft or man-made outer space objects.

3. States parties shall not place objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other types of weapons of mass destruction in orbit around the moon or flying to or around the moon, nor shall they place or use such weapons on or inside the moon.

It is forbidden to build military bases, facilities and fortifications on the moon, test any kind of weapons and hold military exercises. However, the use of military personnel for scientific research or any other peaceful purposes is not prohibited. It is also forbidden to use any equipment or equipment necessary for the peaceful exploration and use of the moon.

Article 4

1. The exploration and utilization of the moon should be the business of all mankind and should benefit all countries, regardless of their economic or scientific development. According to the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, full attention should be paid to the interests of present and future generations of mankind and the need to improve living standards and promote economic and social progress and development.

2. In all activities related to the exploration and utilization of the moon, the contracting States shall follow the principle of cooperation and mutual assistance. International cooperation under this Agreement shall be as extensive as possible and may be conducted multilaterally, bilaterally or through intergovernmental international organizations.

Article 5

1. Contracting States shall, as far as possible, inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the public and the international scientific community of their activities in exploring and using the moon. Information about the time, purpose, location, orbital parameters and duration of each mission to the moon should be released immediately after launch, while information about the results of each mission, including scientific results, should be released after the mission is completed. If the mission lasts more than 60 days, information about the progress of the mission, including scientific results, should be published every 30 days. If the mission lasts more than six months, after six months, it is only necessary to publish important supplementary information in this regard.

2. If a State Party learns that another State Party plans to conduct activities in the same area of the moon, or in the same orbit around the moon, or in the same orbit to or around the moon, it shall immediately inform that State Party of the time and its own activity plan.

3. In carrying out the activities stipulated in this Agreement, the contracting States shall inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the public and the international scientific community of any phenomena and any signs of organic life that they may find in outer space, including the moon.

Article 6

1. All States parties enjoy the freedom to engage in scientific research on the moon on the basis of equality without any discrimination and in accordance with the provisions of international law.

2. Contracting States shall have the right to collect and remove specimens of minerals and other substances on the moon when conducting scientific research to promote the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement. States parties that start collecting such specimens can retain the right to dispose of them and use them for scientific purposes. States parties should consider whether it is appropriate to provide some of these specimens to other interested States parties and the international scientific community for scientific research. When conducting scientific research, States parties may also use an appropriate amount of lunar minerals and other substances to support their tasks.

3. The contracting States agree that when sending personnel to the moon or installing devices on the moon, scientific and other personnel should be exchanged as much as possible.

Article 7

1. When exploring and using the moon, the contracting states should take measures to prevent the existing balance of the lunar environment from being destroyed, regardless of whether such destruction is due to adverse changes in the lunar environment, harmful pollution caused by the introduction of substances outside the environment, or other reasons. States parties should also take measures to prevent the earth's environment from being adversely affected by the introduction of alien substances or other means.

2. Contracting States shall notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the measures they have taken in accordance with Article 65-438+0 of this article, and shall do everything possible to inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations in advance of all radioactive materials they have placed on the moon and their placement purposes.

3. States parties shall report to other States parties and the Secretary-General the areas of special scientific importance on the moon, so as to consider designating these areas as international scientific protection areas without harming the rights of other States parties, and reach an agreement on special protection measures for these areas after consulting with the competent organs of the United Nations.

Article 8

1. Contracting States may conduct exploration and utilization activities anywhere on or under the surface of the moon, but they shall abide by other provisions of this Treaty.

2. To this end, States Parties may, in particular:

(a) Landing on the moon and launching space objects from the moon;

(b) Place its personnel, spacecraft, equipment, facilities, stations and devices anywhere on or below the surface of the moon. People, spacecraft, equipment, facilities, space stations and devices can move freely on or under the surface of the moon.

3. The activities of the contracting States in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article shall not hinder the activities of other contracting States on the moon. If such obstacles arise, the States parties concerned shall hold consultations in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 15.

Article 9

1. Contracting States can establish manned and unmanned space stations on the moon. The State Party that established the station shall only use the area required for the operation of the station, and shall immediately inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the location and purpose of the station. Every other year thereafter, the State Party shall similarly inform the Secretary-General whether the station will continue to be used and whether its purpose has changed.

2. The establishment of the space station shall not prevent the personnel, vehicles and equipment of other States parties conducting activities on the moon from freely entering all areas of the moon in accordance with this Agreement and Article 1 of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

Article 10

1. Contracting States should take all practical measures to protect people's lives and health on the moon. To this end, the contracting States should regard anyone on the moon as an astronaut mentioned in Article 5 of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, and regard him as a part of the astronaut mentioned in the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

2. Contracting States should use their space stations, facilities, vehicles and other equipment to take refuge in the victims on the moon.

Article 1 1

1. The moon and its natural resources are the common property of all mankind, which will be shown in the relevant provisions of this agreement, especially in the fifth paragraph of this article.

2. The state shall not take the moon as its own by using or occupying it, or in any other way, according to the requirements of sovereignty.

3. The surface or subsurface of the moon or any part thereof or the natural resources therein shall not become the property of any country, intergovernmental or non-governmental international organization, national organization or non-governmental entity or any natural person. Placing people, spacecraft, equipment, stations and devices on or under the surface of the moon, including structures connected with the surface or under the surface of the moon, should not be regarded as acquiring ownership of the surface or under the surface of the moon or any other field. The above provisions shall not affect the international system mentioned in paragraph 5 of this article.

States parties have the right to explore and use the moon on the basis of equality, in accordance with international law and the provisions of this agreement, without discrimination of any nature.

5. The States parties to this Agreement undertake to establish an international system, including appropriate procedures, to guide the development of the natural resources of the Moon as soon as practicable. This paragraph shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 of this Agreement.

6. In order to facilitate the establishment of the international system mentioned in paragraph 5 of this article, the contracting States shall, to the extent practicable, notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the public and the international scientific community of any natural resources they have discovered on the moon.

7. The main purposes of the international system to be established should be:

(a) Developing the natural resources of the moon in an orderly and safe manner;

(b) Rational management of these resources;

(c) Expanding access to these resources;

(d) All States parties should share the benefits of these resources fairly, and should pay special attention to the interests and needs of developing countries and the efforts of countries that have directly or indirectly contributed to the exploration of the moon.

8. All activities related to the natural resources of the moon shall be properly carried out in order to meet the purposes listed in paragraph 7 of this article and the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 6 of this Agreement.

Article 12

1. Contracting States shall maintain jurisdiction and control over their personnel, vehicles, equipment, facilities, stations and devices on the moon, and the ownership of outer space vehicles, equipment, equipment, stations and devices shall not be affected by their existence on the moon.

2. Any carrier, device, equipment or parts thereof found in a place other than the intended place shall be disposed of in accordance with Article 5 of the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

3. In case of emergency threatening human life, the contracting States may use the equipment, vehicles, devices, facilities or supplies of other contracting States on the moon. Such use shall be immediately notified to the Secretary-General of the United Nations or the State Party concerned.

Article 13

When a State party learns that a space object not launched by itself has landed on the moon, forcibly or accidentally, it shall immediately notify the State party that launched the object and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 14

1. States parties to this agreement shall bear international responsibility for their activities on the moon, whether they are carried out by government agencies or non-governmental organizations, and shall bear international responsibility for ensuring that their activities are carried out in accordance with the provisions contained in this agreement. States parties shall ensure that non-governmental organizations under their jurisdiction can engage in various activities on the moon only under the jurisdiction and constant supervision of the State party.

2. The contracting States acknowledge that due to the increase in activities on the moon, it may be necessary to make detailed arrangements for the liability for damage caused on the moon in addition to the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies and the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects. Any such measures shall be formulated in accordance with the procedures specified in Article 18 of this Agreement.

Article 15

1. Each Contracting State may determine that the activities of other Contracting States in the exploration and use of the Moon conform to the provisions of this Agreement. To this end, all outer space vehicles, equipment, facilities, stations and devices on the moon should be open to other States parties. These States parties should give notice of planned visits in advance within a reasonable time, so as to conduct appropriate consultations and take maximum preventive measures to ensure safety and avoid interfering with the normal operation of the visited equipment. In order to implement this article, any State Party may use its own means or take actions in accordance with the provisions of the Charter with the full or partial assistance of any other State Party, or through appropriate international procedures within the United Nations system.

2. If a Contracting State has reason to believe that another Contracting State has failed to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement, or that another Contracting State has hindered its rights under this Agreement, it may request consultations with that State. States Parties that have received such a request shall immediately start consultations. Any other State Party shall have the right to participate in consultations upon request. Each contracting party participating in such consultations shall seek a mutually acceptable solution to any dispute, and shall pay attention to the rights and interests of all contracting parties. The results of the last consultation shall be notified to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit the information obtained to all the States parties concerned.

3. If the negotiation fails to reach a mutually acceptable solution that takes due account of the rights and interests of all States parties, the countries concerned should take all measures to settle the dispute through other peaceful means of their choice, which are suitable for the situation and nature of the dispute. If it is difficult to hold consultations, or the results of consultations fail to lead to a solution acceptable to both parties, any State Party may request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to assist in resolving the dispute without seeking the consent of any other State Party concerned. If a State Party does not maintain diplomatic relations with another State Party concerned, it should choose itself or through another State Party or the Secretary-General as an intermediary to participate in the consultations.

Article 16

Except for articles 17 to 2 1, all countries mentioned in this agreement shall be deemed to be applicable to any intergovernmental international organization that conducts outer space activities, provided that the organization declares that it accepts the rights and obligations stipulated in this agreement, and that most of its member States are parties to this treaty and the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Member States of any such organization that are parties to this Agreement shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that the organization makes statements in accordance with the above provisions.

Article 17

Any State Party to this Agreement may propose amendments to this Agreement. When most States parties to this Agreement accept the amendment, the amendment shall enter into force for each State party to this Agreement that has accepted the amendment, and thereafter, for each other State party to this Agreement, the amendment shall enter into force as of the date when that State party accepts the amendment.

Article 18

Ten years after the entry into force of this Agreement, the General Assembly of the United Nations shall include the issue of reviewing this Agreement in its provisional agenda, so as to consider whether it is necessary to amend it according to the past implementation of this Agreement. However, at any time five years after the entry into force of this Agreement, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as the depositary of this Agreement, shall, at the request of one third of the States parties to this Agreement and with the consent of the majority of the States parties, convene a meeting of the States parties to review this Agreement. The Review Conference shall also consider the implementation of the provisions of paragraph 5 of Article 11 in accordance with the principles mentioned in paragraphs 65-438 of Article 11 and taking into account any relevant technological development.

Article 19

1. This Agreement shall be open for signature by all countries at United Nations Headquarters in new york.

2. This Agreement shall be approved by the signatory countries. Before the entry into force of this Agreement in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article, any country that has not signed this Agreement may accede to it at any time. Instruments of ratification and accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

3. This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the five governments deposit their instruments of ratification.

4. For countries that deposit their instruments of ratification or accession after the entry into force of this Agreement, this Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit of their instruments of ratification or accession.

5. The Secretary-General shall immediately notify all signatory and acceding countries of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession to this Agreement, the date of entry into force of this Agreement and the date of receipt of other notifications.

Article 20

Any State Party may denounce this Agreement by notifying the Secretary-General of the United Nations in writing one year after its entry into force. Such withdrawal shall take effect one year after receipt of the notice.

2 1

This Agreement, the six texts of which are equally authentic in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall distribute the duly certified copies of this Agreement to all signatory countries and acceding countries.

In witness whereof, the undersigned, duly authorized by their respective governments, have signed this Agreement.

The Convention was opened for signature in new york on 19791February 18.