AwaitingLaunch_1397728623369

objects of human origin in orbit around Earth, is not capable of handling all
of the challenges that space policymakers and satellite operators face today.
Space is increasingly cluttered physically and contested politically. There is an
urgent need to create some rules for space operations that all space faring
nations are willing to abide by for their own good and for the common good.
These rules would be observed routinely in normal circumstances, that is to
say, in circumstances other than war, when normal relations by definition, are
suspended.
This paper comments on the contributions that middle powers can make in
the international regulation of global commons, such as outer space, and
explains why Australia is committed to seeing an ICoC successfully
implemented.
International Code of Conduct for Outer Space
Activities (ICoC)
The EU first proposed the idea of a code of conduct for outer space
activities in 2008. The Code aims to build trust between space faring nations
to allow them to work together to “enhance the safety, security, and
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sustainability of outer space activities”. The concept has developed since
2008 and a fourth draft of the Code was released in September 2013. This
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draft is stronger than earlier drafts and was the subject of “open-ended
consultations” in Kiev and Bangkok in May and November 2013 respectively
between interested nations, including the U.S., Russia, China, and India.
The draft Code enumerates a number of space events and activities about
which subscribing states agree to provide information and notice under the
draft Code to the broader community. It also provides for a Central Point of
Contact that will provide an organisational structure for the Code and
maintain a database of relevant information that is provided to it by
subscribing states.
Much as the Antarctic Treaty steps around the territorial claims that have
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been made by various nations in Antarctica, so the Code steps around the
question of space weaponisation and overlooks attempts led by China and
Russia in the Geneva-based CD to establish a treaty seeking to prevent an
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arms race in outer space.
128 | Awaiting Launch: Perspectives on the Draft ICoC for Outer Space Activities