Resources
Resources
Primary sources for space law, checked and dated. Treaty status, national legislation, regulator pages and the explainers worth reading first.
54 regulator entries5 treaties trackedChecked August 2026
Start here
Three things worth bookmarking
Each one links straight to the official source rather than to a summary of it.
Space Regulatory Bodies
Every licensing authority, treaty body and register that governs activity in orbit, grouped by region and filterable.
54 entries Treaty statusUNOOSA Status Table
The authoritative record of which states have signed, ratified or acceded to each of the five UN space treaties.
unoosa.org National lawNational Space Law Collection
A searchable database of domestic space legislation submitted by member states. The fastest route to a statute you have not read.
unoosa.orgThe five treaties
Status as at 1 January 2026
Figures from the UNOOSA status document prepared for the 65th session of the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee.
| Treaty | Entered into force | States parties | Signature only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer Space Treaty 1967 | 10 October 1967 | 118 | 23 |
| Rescue Agreement 1968 | 3 December 1968 | 100 | 23 |
| Liability Convention 1972 | 1 September 1972 | 100 | 18 |
| Registration Convention 1975 | 15 September 1976 | 77 | 3 |
| Moon Agreement 1979 | 11 July 1984 | 17 | 4 |
The Outer Space Treaty, the Rescue Agreement and the Liability Convention have three depositaries: the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Registration Convention and the Moon Agreement are deposited with the UN Secretary-General.
Our own
Read these before the primary sources
Plain English on the treaties, the licensing regimes and the commercial machinery around them.
Nuclear Power in Space: The UN Principles, US Launch Rules and the Race for a Lunar Reactor
Nuclear power in space explained: the 1992 UN Principles, NSPM-20 launch approval tiers, Cosmos 954 and the US plan for…
Amateur Rocket Laws: Is It Legal to Launch Your Own Rocket?
Amateur rocket laws explained: FAA Part 101 rocket classes, waivers and ATC notice, the 150 km ceiling, explosives rules and…
Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines Explained: IADC, UN and National Rules
Space debris mitigation guidelines explained: the IADC and UN rules, the 25-year limit, the 2025 constellation update and how regulators…
Planetary Protection Explained: The Rules That Keep Earth Life Off Other Worlds
Planetary protection explained: Article IX, COSPAR's five categories, the 2026 Icy Worlds update, and why private missions remain a regulatory…
Satellite Export Controls Explained: ITAR, the EAR and Launching Abroad
Satellite export controls explained: how ITAR and the EAR split spacecraft, what counts as an export, rules for launching abroad…
Can You Buy Land on the Moon? What the Law Says About Lunar Deeds
Can you buy land on the Moon? No. Why lunar deeds have no legal effect, what the Outer Space Treaty…
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