SpaceMiningData
International treatyInternationalIn force

Outer Space Treaty (1967)

UN treaty that sets the basic rules for space activities: no national appropriation of the Moon or other celestial bodies (Art. II), freedom of exploration and use (Art. I), and state responsibility for, and authorization and continuing supervision of, national activities including those of private entities (Art. VI).

Facts

Level
International treaty
Scope
International
Citation
610 UNTS 205; 18 UST 2410; TIAS 6347; adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI)
Adopted
1966-12-19
In force
1967-10-10
Status
In forceUNOOSA status compilation (A/AC.105/C.2/2026/CRP.9/Rev.1) lists entry into force 10 October 1967 and 118 ratifications/accessions as at 1 January 2026.
Parties or signatories
118 parties as of 2026-01-01

Resource provisions

A paraphrase followed by the source wording.

No explicit resource provision. Art. II bars national appropriation of outer space including the Moon and celestial bodies; Art. I makes outer space free for exploration and use by all States; Art. VI requires states to authorize and continually supervise non-governmental activities and makes them internationally responsible for national activities. These three articles are the basis on which national space resource laws and authorizations operate.

Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means. [1]

Open evidence gaps

  • Treaty text does not mention 'resources'; whether resource extraction is 'use' (Art. I) or 'appropriation' (Art. II) is contested and is not settled by the text itself.
  • Party count after 1 January 2026: UNOOSA status page lists no depositary notifications after 21 October 2025 as of 2026-09-25; an updated compilation (as at 1 January 2027) will confirm.

Record history

changes to this record's facts, newest first

ChangedFieldWasNowReasonSource
2026-01-01parties or signatories.count116118Source update[4]

Sources

7 sources
  1. [1]Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (text)
    United Nations Office for Outer Space AffairsLegislationPublished 1967Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Article II
    Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Outer Space Treaty (text) - Article VI
    United Nations Office for Outer Space AffairsLegislationPublished 1967Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisions, summaryarticle Article VI
    The activities of non-governmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Outer Space Treaty (text) - Article I
    United Nations Office for Outer Space AffairsLegislationPublished 1967Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Article I
    shall be free for exploration and use by all States without discrimination of any kind
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]A/AC.105/C.2/2026/CRP.9/Rev.1 - Status of International Agreements relating to activities in outer space as at 1 January 2026
    UNOOSA / COPUOS Legal SubcommitteeGovernment recordPublished 2026-04-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: parties or signatories, statuspage 10
    Total R 118 100 100 77 17
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]A/AC.105/C.2/2026/CRP.9/Rev.1 - entry into force of the Outer Space Treaty
    UNOOSA / COPUOS Legal SubcommitteeGovernment recordPublished 2026-04-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: adopted date, in force datepage 1
    Opened for signature: 27 January 1967 in London, Moscow and Washington, D.C. Entry into force: 10 October 1967
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]A/AC.105/C.2/2025/CRP.9 - Status of International Agreements relating to activities in outer space as at 1 January 2025
    UNOOSA / COPUOS Legal SubcommitteeGovernment recordPublished 2025Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: historypage 10
    Total R 116 100 100 76 17
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  7. [7]Status of International Agreements relating to Activities in Outer Space (depositary notifications)
    UNOOSAGovernment recordAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: parties or signatories, history
    21 October 2025: Accession of Malaysia to the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.