Recently, <\/span>China has said that its astronauts aboard the <\/span>Tiangong Space Station <\/span><\/a>had to take evasive measures to avoid a potential collision with two of<\/span> SpaceX\u2019s Starlink satellites.<\/span><\/a> After this, China has also complained to the United Nations detailing the alleged space incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n Both the U.S and China are parties to the <\/span>Outer Space Treaty.<\/span><\/a> The treaty provides the basic framework for international space law.<\/span><\/p>\n China has referred to articles V, VI and VII of the treaty in the complaint filed with the UN.<\/span><\/p>\n Article V: <\/b>It requires parties to immediately inform other parties or the UN Secretary-General of any phenomenon they discover in outer space which could constitute a danger to the life or health of astronauts.<\/span><\/p>\n Article VI<\/b>: Nations will be responsible for national space activities, whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities.<\/span><\/p>\n Article VII<\/b>: It states that nations will be liable for damage caused by their space objects, such as satellites.<\/span><\/p>\n The<\/span> United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs <\/b>was created to service the ad hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space(COPUS)<\/strong>. The committee was established in 1958 shortly after the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1. It has been serving as a focal point for international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, <\/span>several multilateral treaties have been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to enable the orderly conduct of activities in outer space. The cornerstone of these is the <\/span>Outer Space Treaty of 1967.<\/b><\/p>\n Four other treaties <\/b>were also adopted to reinforce the framework set by the Outer Space Treaty. These treaties are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 <\/b>The<\/span> Rescue Agreement of 1968 <\/b>requires States to assist an astronaut in case of accident, distress, emergency or unintended landing.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013<\/b> The<\/span> Liability Convention of 1972<\/b> establishes the standards of liability for damage caused by space objects.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013<\/b> The <\/span>Registration Convention of 1975 <\/b><\/a>requires States to register all objects launched into outer space with the United Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013<\/b> The <\/span>Moon Agreement of 1979 <\/b>elaborates on the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty as they apply to the Moon and other celestial bodies.<\/span><\/p>\nWhy did China approach the UN?<\/b><\/h5>\n
How does the UN help with space issues?<\/b><\/h5>\n