"UN: Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, 1972" [2005] ELECD 294; in Tully, Stephen (ed), "International Documents on Corporate Responsibility" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2005)

Book Title: International Documents on Corporate Responsibility

Editor(s): Tully, Stephen

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781843768197

Section: Chapter 71

Section Title: UN: Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, 1972

Number of pages: 3

Extract:

71. UN: Convention on International Liability for
Damage Caused by Space Objects, 1972

Commentary: The Liability Convention (961 UNTS 187, entry into force 1972)
furthers Article 7 of the Outer Space Treaty (above). Launching States are absolutely
liable to pay compensation for damage caused by their space objects on the earth's
surface or to aircraft and become liable where at fault for damage in space.
Compensation claims under Article X must ordinarily be presented within one year
following the date of damage or identification of the launching State. Under Article
XI, the prior exhaustion of local remedies is not required and nothing precludes
governments or the natural or juridical persons they represent from pursuing claims
before the national courts of launching States. Article XIV envisages a Claims
Commission where diplomatic settlements cannot be concluded.



Article I
For the purposes of this Convention:

(a) The term `damage' means loss of life, personal injury or other impairment of health; or
loss of or damage to property of States or of persons, natural or juridical, or property
of international intergovernmental organizations;
(b) The term `launching' includes attempted launching;
(d) The term `space object' includes component parts of a space object as well as its launch
vehicle and parts thereof.


Article II
A launching State shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its
space object on the surface of the earth or to aircraft flight.


Article III
In the event of damage being caused elsewhere than on the surface ...