Space Security Program
Press Release
Model Text of a Code of Conduct for Responsible Space-Faring Nations
October 24, 2007
Nongovernmental organizations from Canada, France, Japan, Russia and the United States released today a model Code of Conduct for Responsible Space-Faring Nations to promote the peaceful uses of outer space. The drafting of the model Code of Conduct, organized by the Washington-based Henry L. Stimson Center, seeks to provide “rules of the road” and to prevent harmful interference with satellites that perform vital life-saving, economic, and military support functions.
Participating nongovernmental experts who helped draft the model Code of Conduct included Setsuko Aoki of Keio University, Alexei Arbatov of the Carnegie Moscow Center, Vladimir Dvorkin of the Center for Policy Studies in Russia, Trevor Findlay of the Canadian Centre for Treaty Compliance, Katsuhisa Furukawa of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, Scott Lofquist-Morgan of the Canadian Centre for Treaty Compliance, Laurence Nardon of the French Institute of International Relations, and Sergei Oznobistchev of the Institute of Strategic Studies and Analysis. NGO participants worked on this project in a personal capacity. Their support for the model Code of Conduct therefore does not reflect endorsements by their institutions or governments.
In making public the model Code of Conduct, Project Director Michael Krepon, Co-Founder of the Henry L. Stimson Center, said, “Rules of the road are required among major space-faring nations because satellites are both indispensable and vulnerable. If they are damaged in crises and in warfare, every space-faring nation will become less secure.”
"This model Code of Conduct should facilitate a small but crucial first step in preventing outer space from following the destiny of land, sea and air spaces in becoming the environment of wasteful arms races and fierce warfare,” said Alexei Arbatov of the Carnegie Moscow Center. “The end of Cold War and the imperatives of the ensuing era of globalization imply the task for responsible nations to change this tradition once and for all."
Setsuko Aoki of Keio University and Katsuhisa Furukawa of the Japan Science and Technology Agency said, “We would like to underline the increasing importance of soft law frameworks in today’s global society and are of the view that this Code of Conduct will become a critical step on which the legal conviction of the immunity of space objects and the prohibition of the threat or use of ASAT weapons would surely be nurtured.
We believe that this initiative paves the foundation for further efforts within the international community to deepen confidence and cooperation among the relevant stakeholders in space-faring nations. We would like to express our gratitude to the valuable initiative taken by the Henry L. Stimson Center and the Project Director, Mr. Michael Krepon.”
Scott Lofquist-Morgan of the Canadian Centre for Treaty Compliance added, "It is now crucial for the international community to find ways to navigate through the obstacles that are currently blocking passage of a legally-binding agreement on the prohibition of weapons in outer space. National postures and incidents in space over the last twelve months have underscored the need for timely, collective efforts in this area. The Henry L. Stimson Center’s initiative to bring together nongovernmental and academic representatives from a range of space-faring countries reflects the kind of effort needed to assist the international community in finding ways to move forward in securing outer space. While the need for an international legal treaty continues to be paramount, acceptance of confidence-building measures like the Stimson model Code of Conduct can only improve the current impasse facing the international community."
Michael Krepon, the Co-Founder of the Stimson Center, called the drafting of the Model Code of Conduct an important milestone. “We recognize that a legally-binding treaty banning space weapons remains an important goal for much of the international community,” said Michael Krepon. “But this treaty faces many hurdles. Given the growing interest in anti-satellite weapons, it makes sense to consider near-term approaches that promote the peaceful uses of outer space. In the meantime, it is essential for all space-faring nations to refrain from harmful interference against space objects.”