[DRAFT] Outer Space Convention

[Erithaca]

Outer Space Convention
Category: Global Disarmament | Proposed by: Erithaca

The World Assembly,

Acknowledging the importance of Outer Space as an environment for exploration,

Not wanting to harm existing space programs,

Feeling the need to preserve space as an area for peaceful scientific research,

Believing that it is right that states bear responsibility for all space objects that are launched within their territory,

Desiring to protect astronauts and ensure their safety and rescue,

Hereby enacts the following:

Article 1- Definitions

1. "Orbit" as the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object around another
2. "Outer space" as the area that begins at the greater of: the distance from an unpowered inhabited object at which airfoil or lifting body stall speed matches or exceeds orbital velocity under WASP-defined average conditions, or is one hundred kilometers from said object."

Article 2- Use of Space

1. All space exploration will be done with good intentions and is equally open to all states that comply with international law.
   
2. International law shall apply without unneccessary change in space.
   
3. Objects, parts, and components discovered outside the jurisdiction of a nation shall be returned upon identification unless for national security purposes.
   
4. All states have the right in outer space to unilaterally:
   
   1. claim sovereignty over sections of outer space,
   2. regulate their territory with respect to trade and immigration,
   3. build, operate, and maintain defensive structures,
   4. conduct training exercises and other military maneuvers
   5. test weapons in areas within their juridstiction
   6. carry out actions necessary to conduct war or suppress piracy (in accordance with other relevant international law) in foreign territories.

Article 3- Liability

1. States shall bear international responsibility for all space objects consensually launched within their territory.This is regardless of which nation launches the space object.
   
2. The State in which the object was launced is fully liable for damages that result from that space object.
   
3. However, if two or more states work together to launch a space object, then all of those states are jointly and separately liable for the damage that object causes.

Article 4- Rescue of Astronauts

1. States must provide assistance to rescue the personnel of a spacecraft who have landed within that state's territory, whether because of an accident, distress, emergency, or unintended landing. This also applies to those who have found themselves in a state of distress in space.
   
2. Any state party that becomes aware that the personnel of anon-hostile spacecraft are in distress must notify the launching authority if possible.

[Grays Harbor]

No nation or group of nations may claim ownership of outer space or any celestial body.

You realize the planet you live on is a celestial body ... right?

[Norway and Iceland]

We have the following initial comments:

• There should be an article defining the scope of the convention, in which the term 'managed outer space' could be used.
• The current definition of 'managed outer space' is arbitrary.
• Art 1(2): *inhabited
• Re the preamble: nations may wish to collaborate in space programmes (remove)

[Wallenburg]

Among the many member states exist multiple intergalactic or otherwise extraplanetary civilizations, whose economies and societies rely on ownership of territory beyond their homeworld. The nature of such nations also requires the presence of military forces and weapons, and the use of such assets, in space. Furthermore, as Grays Harbor has pointed out, any member state's homeworld is a celestial body, so you have effectively banned the concept of a nation-state.

Your proposal suffers from the assumption that the World Assembly exists solely on some strange, alternate version of 2018 Earth, crowded together with a bunch of other, similar WA member states, when hardly any member states fit that description. Not every member nation is MT, and not every member nation exists on RL Earth.

[Cosmopolitan borovan]

Would this violate the optional it's rule if some nations are past tech

[Mutualist Chaos]

Article 2, paragraphs 2, 5, and 6 are going to be complete deal-breakers for multiple nations and you should remove them if you want to have even a tiny, crappy chance to pass this. And you need to fix your category. Nothing in here does anything environmental.

[Kenmoria]

“Firstly, in clause 1, the WA is on thousands of planets that are not called Earth, so the definition needs to be altered. Also, clause 2-2 is a complete deal breaker for any nation wishing to expand past its home planet. Clause 2-5 seems very burdensome in any war conducted between two planets.”

(OOC: This reads to me currently as though it hasn’t considered FT nations which would be expanding into space very easily.)

Would this violate the optional it's rule if some nations are past tech

(OOC: No, it wouldn’t. Although some nations can’t disobey these requirements due to tech difference, they are still being told to obey them so there is no violation.)

[Bears Armed]

Would this violate the optional it's rule if some nations are past tech

OOC
No. The way in which the rule against Optionality has always been interpreted allows for proposals such as this one that apply to all member nations in theory but that simply aren't applicable for some of those nations: Proposals involving the sea, despite some member nations being landlocked (or on space-stations, or sea-less worlds), for example.... or, for another example, proposals limiting member nations' right to use WMDs despite the fact that some of those nations actually don't have any military forces at all. What this rule means a proposal can not do is say something like "Member nations must do {WHATEVER}... unless they don't want to do so".

[Dawn Kingdom]

The World Assembly,

Acknowledging the importance of Outer Space as an environment for exploration,

"the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. Well, as you see outer space cannot be described as an ENVIROMENT."

Not wanting to harm existing space programs,

"Want or not you are already doing it, plus really uneeded sentence"

[*]Objects, parts, and components discovered outside the jurisdiction of a nation shall be returned upon identification.

"Sorry, but returned where? In outer space?"

[*]No nation shall place a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological or other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans in space or on an uninhabited celestial body.

"Soo if aliens DO exist and they will be unfriendly, we are sending out scientists in outer space without any kind of strong protection"

[*]No testing weapons of any kind, conducting military maneuvers, or establishing military bases, installations, and fortifications shall be permitted in space or on an uninhabited celestial body.

"You are telling us that it is better to test nuclear weapons on home planet than in outer space where noone lives and noone will ever live"

[Erithaca]

No nation or group of nations may claim ownership of outer space or any celestial body.

You realize the planet you live on is a celestial body ... right?

Even though that's technically not true, I will clarify it for you Earthlings. Notice that I am reaching the drafting room via video link.

We have the following initial comments:

• There should be an article defining the scope of the convention, in which the term 'managed outer space' could be used.
• The current definition of 'managed outer space' is arbitrary.
• Art 1(2): *inhabited
• Re the preamble: nations may wish to collaborate in space programmes (remove)

Managed outer space was there because this proposal was going to contain space junk: which has already been covered. There is no need for scope now. Please forgive my terrible mobile typing. That thing will be removed from the preamble.

Among the many member states exist multiple intergalactic or otherwise extraplanetary civilizations, whose economies and societies rely on ownership of territory beyond their homeworld.

The nature of such nations also requires the presence of military forces and weapons, and the use of such assets, in space. Furthermore, as Grays Harbor has pointed out, any member state's homeworld is a celestial body, so you have effectively banned the concept of a nation-state.
Oops! This is not the first basic human concept that I have nearly banned. While this would be inappropriate on Earth, I will remove those clauses.
Your proposal suffers from the assumption that the World Assembly exists solely on some strange, alternate version of 2018 Earth, crowded together with a bunch of other, similar WA member states, when hardly any member states fit that description. Not every member nation is MT, and not every member nation exists on RL Earth.
That definition of outer space was incompetently copy and lasted from somewhere and will be changed to a Non-Earth definition. The lack of imagination that caused the only MT parts will be corrected as well.

Would this violate the optional it's rule if some nations are past tech

As Bears Armed put quite clearly, no.

Article 2, paragraphs 2, 5, and 6 are going to be complete deal-breakers for multiple nations and you should remove them if you want to have even a tiny, crappy chance to pass this. And you need to fix your category. Nothing in here does anything environmental.

Tiny, crappy chances are the way I pass resolutions! I have already removed clauses 2 and 5, but will keep clause 6 only for aggressive, not defensive actions. Would that violate resolutions on war?

"the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. Well, as you see outer space cannot be described as an ENVIROMENT."
"Environment" has multiple definitions, according to some dictionaries, 4, even 7 definitions. You chose one. Here is another one, the one I was using.

The surroundings of, and influences on, a particular item of interest.

That works, doesn't it?

"Want or not you are already doing it, plus really uneeded sentence"
I have changed what I think was the cause of your problem. It is as uneeded as the rest of the preamble.

"Sorry, but returned where? In outer space?"
Wherever possible. Your other queries have already been answered.

[Kenmoria]

Outer Space Convention
Category: Environmental | Industries Affected: All Industries | Proposed by: Erithaca

The World Assembly,

Acknowledging the importance of outer space as an environment for exploration,

Not wanting to harm existing space programs,

Feeling the need to preserve space as an area for peaceful scientific research,

Believing that it is right that states bear responsibility for all space objects that are launched within their territory,

Desiring to protect astronauts and ensure their safety and rescue,

Hereby enacts the following:

Article 1- Definitions

1. "Outer space" as the void that begins at the lowest altitude above sea level at which objects can orbit a celestial body.

Article 2- Use of Space

1. Space exploration will be done with good intentions and will be equally open to all states that comply with international law.
   
2. International law shall apply without unneccessary change in space.
   
3. Objects, parts, and components belonging to a WA state discovered outside the jurisdiction of a nation shall be returned upon identification.
   
4. No testing weapons of any kind, or conducting military maneuvers, establishing military bases, installations, and fortifications for non-defensive purposes shall be permitted in outer space or on an uninhabited celestial body.

Article 3- Liability

1. States shall bear international responsibility for all space objects launched inside their territory, so long as the object was launched with said state’s consent. This is regardless of which nation launches the space object.
   
2. The State in which the object was launced is fully liable for damages that result from that space object.
   
3. However, if two or more States work together to launch a space object, then all of those states are jointly and separately liable for the damage that object causes.

Article 4- Rescue of Astronauts

1. States must provide all possible assistance to rescue the personnel of a spacecraft who have landed within that state's territory, whether because of an accident, distress, emergency, or unintended landing, or have found themselves in a state of distress in space.
   
2. Any state party that becomes aware that the personnel of a spacecraft are in distress must notify the launching authority if possible.

“My changes and additions are in red. A few spelling and word choice corrections, but also changes to underlying content. I also question the category, since this seems to focus more on member states than industries contained within.”

[Wallenburg]

Define "orbit".

[Sierra Lyricalia]

"Couple things."

"First, I assume you mean the distance at which an unpowered object can maintain orbit. You can get unnaturally close to a planet and maintain orbit with occasional thrust, but that's not what most people mean by 'orbit.' OK, then you need to realize there's a whole spectrum there. An AF-6 Harpy aerospace superiority fighter in dead vector-forward orientation is going to stay in a 160-click orbit a hell of a lot longer than a solar-powered arthouse satellite at the same altitude. This is because atmosphere doesn't magically vanish above the point where airfoil wings provide lift at reasonable speeds. Drag continues even in air so thin you can't feel it. So actually, there's your more useful definition of space: the point at which airfoil stall speed approaches orbital velocity under WASP-defined average conditions for the body in question."

"Secondly: Article 2, Paragraph 4 is completely unacceptable. There are non-member nations and pirates with very few scruples about pillage and conquest and we need to be able to defend ourselves from them, as well as protect the large population of poorly- or unarmed civilians. You wouldn't tell a police force they're not allowed to run around armed or go arrest criminals in their actual hideouts, wouldja? This is lunacy and we won't support anything with any such requirement."

---

OOC: Also, as someone pointed out, this proposal doesn't seem to have a single line of environmental protections. Figure out a different category. If you drop the non-militarization requirement, you can make this International Security, as the rescue requirements and a stronger mandate to enforce international law in space would increase police or military budgets mildly.

[Bears Armed]

There are non-member nations and pirates with very few scruples about pillage and conquest and we need to be able to defend ourselves from them, as well as protect the large population of poorly- or unarmed civilians.

OOC: and in the case of the pirates, there's actually a resolution (#20) telling you to take action...

[Kenmoria]

“‘All possible assistance’ in clause 4-1 seems a bit strong given the astronaughts may be of an enemy nation or even one at which there is a war. Maybe just mandate treating them fairly and returning them to their home nation.”

[Grenartia]

Outer Space Convention
Category: Environmental | Industries Affected: All Industries | Proposed by: Erithaca

The World Assembly,

Acknowledging the importance of Outer Space as an environment for exploration,

Not wanting to harm existing space programs,

Feeling the need to preserve space as an area for peaceful scientific research,

Believing that it is right that states bear responsibility for all space objects that are launched within their territory,

Desiring to protect astronauts and ensure their safety and rescue,

Hereby enacts the following:

Article 1- Definitions

1. "outer space" as the void that begins at the lowest altitude above sea level at which objects can orbit a celestial body.

Article 2- Use of Space

1. All space exploration will be done with good intentions and is equally open to all States that comply with international law.
   
2. International law shall apply without unneccessary change in space.
   
3. Objects, parts, and components discovered outside the jurisdiction of a nation shall be returned upon identification.
   
4. No testing weapons of any kind, or conducting military maneuvers, establishing military bases, installations, and fortifications for non-defensive purposes for shall be permitted in space or on an uninhabited celestial body.

Article 3- Liability

1. States shall bear international responsibility for all space objects launched within their territory. This is regardless of which nation launches the space object.
   
2. The State in which the object was launced is fully liable for damages that result from that space object.
   
3. However, if two or more States work together to launch a space object, then all of those states are jointly and severally liable for the damage that object causes.

Article 4- Rescue of Astronauts

1. States must provide all possible assistance to rescue the personnel of a spacecraft who have landed within that state's territory, whether because of an accident, distress, emergency, or unintended landing, or have found themselves in a state of distress in space.
   
2. Any state party that becomes aware that the personnel of a spacecraft are in distress must notify the launching authority if possible.

"outer space" as the void that begins at the lowest altitude above sea level at which objects can orbit a celestial body.

Define "void", "orbit", and "sea level" (particularly for bodies that do not, in fact, have seas). Would it surprise you to hear that what is commonly thought of as space isn't nearly as perfect of a vacuum as your proposal suggests, Ambassador? Not even the areas between galaxies are perfect vacuums, which implies that there is no such thing as a void. By that logic, this proposal cannot apply anywhere in the universe.

All space exploration will be done with good intentions and is equally open to all States that comply with international law.

How is this to be enforced? With strongly-worded scraps of dead tree?

Objects, parts, and components discovered outside the jurisdiction of a nation shall be returned upon identification.

Do the objects, parts, and components outside the jurisdiction of a nation have to belong to that nation? And does this mean that no craft can leave its national jurisdiction?

Also, what about necessities for national security? If one of our enemy's new shiny battlecruisers meets an unfortunate end with an asteroid just outside our space, why shouldn't we be able to take the opportunity to reverse-engineer the debris to boost our defensive capabilities?

No testing weapons of any kind, or conducting military maneuvers, establishing military bases, installations, and fortifications for non-defensive purposes for shall be permitted in space or on an uninhabited celestial body.

Then how the ever-loving fuck are we supposed to defend our friends and allies, Ambassador? When the Space Nazis invade your world, don't look to us to defend you, because we won't be able to, if this proposal passes in its current state. I mean, how are we supposed to know if our space combat weapons are any good if we can't test them in the environment they're going to be used in?

States shall bear international responsibility for all space objects launched within their territory. This is regardless of which nation launches the space object.

The State in which the object was launched is fully liable for damages that result from that space object.

So, if the Space Nazis decide to sneak attack your world through our space, using one of their Auschwitz-class planetary incineration thermonuclear warheads, and we were unaware of their intentions to do so, why must we be held liable if the missile was launched even 100 meters inside our borders?

States must provide all possible assistance to rescue the personnel of a spacecraft who have landed within that state's territory, whether because of an accident, distress, emergency, or unintended landing, or have found themselves in a state of distress in space.

Alright, but what if they haven't landed yet?

Any state party that becomes aware that the personnel of a spacecraft are in distress must notify the launching authority if possible.

By "if possible", do you mean physically possible, or possible as long as it doesn't jeopardize a legitimate state interest? We'd rather not have to let the Space Nazis know if we've detained some of their spies simply because their spacecraft had a malfunction.

"Couple things."

"First, I assume you mean the distance at which an unpowered object can maintain orbit. You can get unnaturally close to a planet and maintain orbit with occasional thrust, but that's not what most people mean by 'orbit.' OK, then you need to realize there's a whole spectrum there. An AF-6 Harpy aerospace superiority fighter in dead vector-forward orientation is going to stay in a 160-click orbit a hell of a lot longer than a solar-powered arthouse satellite at the same altitude. This is because atmosphere doesn't magically vanish above the point where airfoil wings provide lift at reasonable speeds. Drag continues even in air so thin you can't feel it. So actually, there's your more useful definition of space: the point at which airfoil stall speed approaches orbital velocity under WASP-defined average conditions for the body in question."

"Secondly: Article 2, Paragraph 4 is completely unacceptable. There are non-member nations and pirates with very few scruples about pillage and conquest and we need to be able to defend ourselves from them, as well as protect the large population of poorly- or unarmed civilians. You wouldn't tell a police force they're not allowed to run around armed or go arrest criminals in their actual hideouts, wouldja? This is lunacy and we won't support anything with any such requirement."

Indeed, Ambassador. Personally, I wish nations that have obviously only just recently started considering spaceflight would leave the space-related legislation to the nations that have more maturity and experience in space. A word of advice to the Erithacian ambassador: Perhaps you should wait until your Stuntnik has completed a full orbit before trying to introduce legislation that affects interstellar empires.

(OOC: Another thing of note, is that the atmosphere can extend far above a planet's low orbit altitude. For instance, Earth's atmosphere extends out to at least 600 miles above the surface, IIRC, while LEO is around 230 miles, which is why the ISS needs to be reboosted every so often, because atmospheric drag would cause its orbit to decay otherwise.)

[Erithaca]

"Outer space and orbit have been defined. The use of sea level has been removed. I have added a few clarifications national security and accidents. The words "all possible" have been removed from 4.1 and the category is now international security. I would like to remind the ambassador from Sierra Lyricalia that military exercises are banned only for non-defensive purposes and that EriSputnik only needs one more coat of paint before it's ready. The trajectory has been changed from "about 45 degrees" to "a bit higher... lower... higher".

[Separatist Peoples]

"Woefully opposed to any attempt to demilitarize space."

[Araraukar]

Article 1- Definitions

1. "orbit" as the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object around another

In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object, such as the trajectory of a planet around a star or a natural satellite around a planet.

OOC: Try again with your own words, not Wikipedia quotes.

[Grenartia]

Article 1- Definitions

1. "orbit" as the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object around another

In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object, such as the trajectory of a planet around a star or a natural satellite around a planet.

OOC: Try again with your own words, not Wikipedia quotes.

I'm fairly sure that's the scientific defintion.

[Erithaca]

Article 1- Definitions

1. "orbit" as the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object around another

In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object, such as the trajectory of a planet around a star or a natural satellite around a planet.

OOC: Try again with your own words, not Wikipedia quotes.

Aha! You discovered my plan!

I'm fairly sure that's the scientific defintion.

It's a good scientific defintion anyway.

[Grenartia]

OOC: Try again with your own words, not Wikipedia quotes.

Aha! You discovered my plan!

I'm fairly sure that's the scientific defintion.

It's a good scientific defintion anyway.

I'd recommend changing the definition of outer space to something more scientific as well. As I pointed out before, there's not even a true vacuum between galaxies, much less between stars or even planets. You should also make changes in light of the issues I pointed out before.

[Kenmoria]

“On the last clause, I think national security would make it more compelling, not less, to alert someone to the problem.”

[The Earth Systems Alliance]

"Ugghhh what!?" exclaims Ambassador Irons, surprised.
"You DO realize that there are space-faring nations out there, including ourselves, that do what this draft prohibits to do. You DO also realize that if this were to be voted, the aforementioned nations would collapse due to the restrictions placed upon them, dooming trillions of people in the process? You can't just place restrictions on those who happen to be more technologically advanced and exploit, colonise and build defense platforms orbiting around celestial bodies. The backlash would be tremendous!"

[Imperium Anglorum]

Yea, and I have space-wank up the wazoo that can make all of your chaps look like primitives. When you have transwarp beaming, why have starships? Don't need any of that space travel drivel. There's always a bigger tech wank.