Who governs space?

The origins of space law can be broadly traced back to an international effort at the height of the Cold War to prevent any one country from monopolising the use of outer space and to preserve the use of space for peaceful purposes. This culminated in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, art Iof which begins:

The exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind.

The Outer Space Treaty remains the bedrock of the international legal framework regarding the use of outer space. Among other obligations, the Outer Space Treaty binds 'States Parties (that is, states who have ratified the treaty) to provide 'authorization and continuing supervision' of all activities of non-governmental entities in outer space: art VI. Another notable treaty obligation is contained in art VII, which, together with the 1972 Liability Convention provides that launching states are absolutely liable for compensation for damage caused by its space objects on Earth or in space.