Five core space law conventions
The United Nations adopted the Outer Space Treaty, the Rescue Agreement, the Liability Convention, the Registration Convention, and the Moon Agreement, establishing principles such as peaceful use, international cooperation, and liability for damage. my country joined the Outer Space Treaty in December 1983, and the Rescue Agreement, the Liability Convention, and the Registration Convention in 1988.
Outer Space Treaty
The full name of the Outer Space Treaty is the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. It was adopted in 1966 and came into effect in 1967. It established the basic principles of international space law and stipulated that the core legal principles include: Outer space has The country is open to free exploration and utilization; no country may appropriate outer space (including celestial bodies) as its own through sovereignty claims, use or occupation; it is prohibited to place nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, and to establish military bases or conduct weapons tests on celestial bodies.
“Rescue Agreement”
The full name of the “Rescue Agreement” is the “Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space”. It was adopted in 1968 and came into effect in 1968. It stipulates the principles for countries to provide assistance and rescue to astronauts from different countries. Each contracting country is obliged to provide assistance and provide necessary assistance to astronauts from other countries who land in their own country due to accidents.
Liability Convention
The full name of the Liability Convention is the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Outer Space Objects. It was adopted in 1971 and came into effect in 1972. It mainly established a liability system for damage caused by space objects. Absolute liability: The launching country shall bear “absolute liability” for the damage caused by its space objects on the earth’s surface or to aircraft in flight. That is, regardless of whether there is fault or not, as long as the damage occurs, it must bear the obligation to compensate. Fault liability: If a country’s space object causes damage to another country’s space object or the people and property it carries outside the earth’s surface (such as outer space), that country will be liable for compensation only if the damage is caused by the fault of the country or its responsible personnel.
Registration Convention
The full name of the Registration Convention is the Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. It was adopted in 1975 and came into effect in 1976. It clearly stipulates that any country that launches any object into outer space must register it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This is a mandatory registration system. Each registration country should provide relevant registration information to the Secretary-General of the United Nations as soon as practicable, such as the name of the launching country, the symbol of the outer space object or its registration number, the date and location of the launch, basic orbital parameters and the general functions of the outer space object, etc.
“Moon Agreement”
The full name of the Moon Agreement is the Agreement Guiding the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. It was adopted in 1979 and came into effect in 1984. It further refines and extends the principles of the Outer Space Treaty to the moon and other celestial bodies, and clearly stipulates that the moon and its natural resources are the common property of all mankind. Because the “Moon Agreement” advocates “common inheritance of mankind” and other provisions that are relatively radical and demanding, only a few countries have ratified it. The absence of major space-faring countries results in limited actual binding force.
Contents of core regulatory regulations in my country’s aerospace field
Our country currently does not have a Space Law. At the beginning of this century, our country began to promote space legislation. In 2014, the Space Law was included in the legislative plan of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. The goal at that time was to strive for its formal introduction before 2020, but it has not yet been officially promulgated. Before the formal promulgation of the “Space Law”, our country passed the following regulations to guide our country’s aerospace activities. Specifically include: “National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “Work Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Guarding State Secrets”, “Counterespionage Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Administration of Military Exports”, “Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Export Control of Missiles and Related Items and Technologies”, and “Regulations on Export Operations of Sensitive Items and Technologies of the People’s Republic of China”. “Measures for the Administration of Record Management”, “Radio Management Regulations of the People’s Republic of China”, “Radio Frequency Allocation Regulations of the People’s Republic of China”, “Satellite Network Space Station Management Regulations”, “Management Regulations for the Establishment of Satellite Communication Networks and the Installation and Use of Earth Stations”, “Regulations on the Management of Weapons and Equipment Scientific Research and Production Licenses”, “Implementation Measures for Weapons and Equipment Scientific Research and Production Licenses”, “Interim Administration of Civilian Space Launch Project Licenses” Law, “Measures for the Management of Space Debris Mitigation and Protection”, “Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals”, “Regulations on the Safety Management of Civilian Explosives”, “Interim Measures for the Safety Management of Military Hazardous Chemicals”, “Measures for the Administration of Import and Export Licenses for Dual-use Items and Technologies”, “Measures for the Administration of General Licenses for the Export of Dual-use Items and Technologies”, “Notice on Promoting the Standardized and Orderly Development of Commercial Launch Vehicles”, “About “Notice on Promoting the Orderly Development of Microsatellites and Strengthening Safety Management”, “Notice on Strengthening Quality Supervision and Management of Commercial Space Projects”, “Interim Measures for the Management of National Civilian Satellite Remote Sensing Data”, “Measures for the Management of Application, Coordination, Registration and Maintenance of Satellite Networks (Trial)”, “Measures for the Domestic Coordination and Management of Satellite Networks”, “Guiding Opinions on Optimizing Business Access to Promote the Development of the Satellite Communications Industry”, etc.
“Interim Measures for the Administration of Licenses for Civilian Space Launch Projects”
The “Interim Measures for the License Management of Civilian Space Launch Projects” came into effect on December 21, 2002, and established the license management system for civil space launches in my country: no relevant activities are allowed without obtaining a license. It applies to the behavior of satellites and other spacecrafts entering outer space within the territory of our country, as well as the behavior of satellites and other spacecrafts that my country’s natural persons, legal persons or other organizations have property rights or have property rights through on-orbit delivery, entering outer space outside our country. The ultimate owner of the satellite or the general contractor of the project shall submit a launch project license application to the Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense nine months before the scheduled launch month in accordance with the administrative licensing regulations and the “Interim Measures for the Administration of Civilian Space Launch Project Licenses”. The launch can only be carried out after obtaining the space launch project license. Civilian and commercial spacecraft for launch must also apply for a launch permit. Obtaining the license does not mean the end, the entire launch activity must be under strict supervision. The first is insurance. Insurance is a hard threshold. You must purchase third-party liability insurance and other related insurance for launching space objects. Secondly, key nodes must also be submitted for approval. For example, before entering the launch site work stage, the factory delivery application should be submitted. Only after approval can the launch site work stage be entered; within 30 days after the completion of the project launch, the project completion status should be reported in writing to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, space object registration information should be submitted, and registration procedures should be performed. Finally, when there is a major change in the status of the satellite or spacecraft (such as orbit change, disintegration, cessation of operation, return and re-entry into the atmosphere, etc.), a change registration needs to be made to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
“Notice on Promoting the Standardized and Orderly Development of Commercial Launch Vehicles”
The “Notice on Promoting the Standardized and Orderly Development of Commercial Launch Vehicles” was jointly issued by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission on May 30, 2019. It clearly stipulates the access, launch declaration, safety management and control of commercial rocket companies. The “Notice” requires enterprises engaged in commercial launch vehicle scientific research and production activities to be approved by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and obtain relevant licenses for weapons and equipment scientific research and production before they can carry out relevant work; before starting the development and production of rocket products, they must report to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission. Regarding space launch declaration: Commercial rocket companies shall prepare application materials in accordance with the “Interim Measures for the Administration of Civilian Space Launch Project Licenses” and apply to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense for a launch license through the provincial defense science, technology and industry management department; prepare relevant materials in accordance with relevant regulations, submit them to the Equipment Development Department of the Military Commission for special review, and obtain the issuance Only after obtaining the launch license and passing the special review can the launch test activities be carried out according to the procedures; in the application materials for the launch license and special review, commercial rocket companies need to focus on orbital frequency registration and coordination, space debris mitigation, safety prevention and control measures, third-party liability insurance, and the effectiveness of relevant commercial insurance purchases. Regarding work related to launch sites and test sites: All launch missions that implement spacecraft into orbit must be carried out at a nationally recognized space launch site. Before applying for a launch license, commercial rocket companies need to complete technical coordination with the launch site and other aspects and formulate a launch flight program; for test verification and related launch tests without spacecraft into orbit, launch sites or test sites and other facilities affiliated to relevant national departments and enterprises can be relied upon and used to carry out relevant activities.
“Interim Measures for the Management of Civilian Satellite Projects”
The “Interim Measures for the Management of Civilian Satellite Projects” was issued by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense in 2016. It provides unified regulations for the entire process of civil satellite project management from demonstration to satellite decommissioning (comprehensive demonstration, project establishment, overall design, system coordination, development and production, launch measurement and control, on-orbit testing, delivery operation, summary evaluation, deorbit disposal, etc.). In principle, commercial satellite projects shall be implemented accordingly. Civilian satellite projects shall declare satellite frequency/orbit resources to the International Telecommunications Union through the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in accordance with the International Telecommunications Union Radio Regulations and relevant domestic radio management regulations. During the project approval and demonstration stage, satellite frequency and orbit resource availability demonstrations are simultaneously carried out, the feasibility of the resources to be used is analyzed, potential risks are assessed, and risk control plans are proposed. Frequency orbit applicants are responsible for frequency/orbit resource declaration, coordination, operation and maintenance, and apply for and obtain a satellite network space radio license from relevant national ministries and commissions before applying for a launch license.
“Notice on Promoting the Orderly Development of Microsatellites and Strengthening Safety Management”
The “Notice on Promoting the Orderly Development of Microsatellites and Strengthening Safety Management” was jointly issued by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission on May 7, 2021. It is the first systematic normative document specifically targeted at the field of microsatellites. The “Notice” defines microsatellites, which refer to spacecraft with a mass of 1,000 kilograms and below that carry out communications, navigation, remote sensing, space science, technology experiments and other specific tasks in orbit (including suborbital). They include microsatellites owned by natural persons, legal persons or other organizations in my country or owned by other means such as on-orbit delivery. They also include microsatellites owned by natural persons, legal persons or other organizations of other countries that are designed, produced and launched within my country or using Chinese facilities. For “the design, development, transportation, storage, testing, and operation of microsatellites with a mass of more than 500 kilograms” and “engaging in scientific research and production activities of power supply, propulsion, engine, pyrotechnics and other subsystems and their ancillary products”, it is necessary to obtain relevant qualifications for the scientific research and production of weapons and equipment. Microsatellites should have the necessary capabilities to facilitate deorbiting and avoid long-term occupation of commonly used orbits. The deorbiting technology used should be mature and reliable. After the mission is completed, terminated or their lifespan expires, the orbital residence time of micro-satellites with an orbital altitude of no more than 2,000 kilometers shall not exceed 25 years. Micro-satellites with an orbital altitude of more than 2,000 kilometers should actively enter grave orbits or non-usable orbits.
“Satellite Network Application Coordination, Registration and Maintenance Management Measures (Trial)”
The “Satellite Network Declaration, Coordination, Registration and Maintenance Management Measures (Trial)” was issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on January 3, 2017, stipulating that the use of satellite networks must comply with the relevant procedures for satellite network declaration, coordination, registration and maintenance stages specified by the ITU. During the satellite network application stage, the satellite operating unit will prepare relevant information, submit advance announcement information, coordination information, planned frequency band PARTA information, etc. to the ITU through the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and carry out corresponding information supplements, modifications, and clarifications. In the satellite network coordination stage, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology organizes satellite operating units to carry out technical consultations on compatibility and sharing of satellite networks and terrestrial radio services with domestic and related countries’ satellite networks and terrestrial radio services for the declared satellite network. During the satellite registration stage, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will submit the satellite network notification materials that have completed the declaration and coordination procedures, as well as the corresponding information required for putting into use and performing relevant administrative procedures, etc. to the ITU, and notify the ITU to register the relevant information of the satellite network data into the Master Frequency Register (MIFR) to obtain international recognition and protection status.
“Measures for the Registration and Management of Space Objects”
The “Measures for the Registration and Management of Space Objects” was jointly issued by the former Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and came into effect on February 8, 2001. All space objects launched within the territory of our country, as well as space objects launched by our country abroad, shall be registered domestically by the ultimate owner or actual user or controller of the space object in accordance with the “Measures for the Administration of Registration of Space Objects”. The main contents of the national registry include: registration number, registrant, owner of space object, name of space object, basic characteristics of space object, launcher of space object, name of carrier, launch date, name of launch site, basic orbit parameters of space object, launch and orbit entry status of space object, etc. Space object registrants should submit registration information and complete registration procedures within 60 days of the space object entering space orbit. When there is a major change in the status of a space object (such as orbit change, disintegration, cessation of operation, return and re-entry into the atmosphere, etc.), the change registration should be made within 60 days after the status change of the space object.
“Notice on Strengthening the Quality Supervision and Management of Commercial Aerospace Projects”
The “Notice on Strengthening the Quality Supervision and Management of Commercial Aerospace Projects” was officially announced by the National Space Administration on July 21, 2025. It is the first normative document in my country that systematically stipulates the quality supervision of the entire life cycle of commercial aerospace projects. It clearly stipulates that the quality responsibility of commercial aerospace project undertakers shall implement a lifelong accountability system. The notice established a four-party collaborative quality supervision and management system. Relevant national departments are responsible for guiding the quality supervision and management of commercial aerospace projects and formulating relevant policies and standards. The project undertaker is the quality responsibility body of commercial aerospace projects and is responsible for the quality management and self-quality supervision of full life cycle activities. The project contractor is the main relevant party affected by quality risks and can selectively plan and implement external quality supervision activities. Third-party professional institutions are entrusted to undertake quality review, independent assessment, quality supervision, supervision and evaluation and other related work. Regarding R&D and production, if subcontracting is involved, the general contractor is responsible for the overall quality work, and the subcontractor is responsible for the quality of the tasks undertaken; establish factory review rules and procedures, clarify the factory release criteria, and products that do not meet the requirements of the factory release criteria are not allowed to leave the factory; for commercial aerospace projects with low model technology maturity and high flight safety risks such as first flight and go-around, the national aerospace industry management department can organize independent assessments when necessary. Regarding launch implementation, you must obtain a civil space launch project permit before entering the site to perform launch test activities; if quality problems occur during the preparation process of the launch mission, the project undertaker should carry out zeroing work in strict accordance with the standards. If the conditions for zeroing are not temporarily met during the preparation of the launch mission, a form shall be formed that will not affect the test. Or a clear conclusion of the launch flight (problems will be reset after the completion); if quality problems occur during the mission implementation and the launch fails, the relevant national departments will guide the commercial aerospace project undertakers to complete the reset work as appropriate. Only after the zero reset situation is approved by the national aerospace industry management department can the test or go-around work be reorganized.
