International obligations and cooperation

Overview

Australia supports the peaceful use and exploration of outer space, including through regulation and the development of innovative technology solutions.  

We participate in international forums, agreements and arrangements to support the implementation of international space law and contribute to the development of regulatory arrangements that shape and enable the space industry. 

Participating in international forums

We engage in international discussions to support the implementation of international space law towards the peaceful use and exploration of outer space. This includes: 

• development and implementation of rules and norms that seek to support the safety, stability and sustainability of outer space 

• engagement on international law issues affecting the regulation of civil space activities. 

Australia is a member of the following space-related international forums: 

• UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 

• International Astronautical Federation 

• Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum. 

Agreements, including space treaties

Australia is committed to the peaceful use and exploration of outer space. 

Australia is a State Party to the five United Nations treaties on outer space: 

• Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the Outer Space Treaty) 

• Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (the Rescue Agreement) 

• Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (the Liability Convention) 

• Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (the Registration Convention) 

• Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the Moon Agreement). 

Australia is also a founding Member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), which was established in 1959. 

Australia is implementing the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities and is committed to working closely with the space sector on implementation. 

Arrangements

Artemis Accords  

Australia is a founding signatory to the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program.  

The Artemis program is part of NASA’s Moon to Mars space exploration approach, which seeks to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024 as a first step towards human exploration of Mars. The Accords include principles on transparency, interoperability, preserving outer space heritage and deconfliction of space activities.  

Our commitment to the Accords aligns with Australia’s support for the development of rules, norms and principles for the safe, stable and sustainable use and exploration of outer space. 

 

The “Space2030” Agenda 

Australia supports the “Space2030” Agenda, developed by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. This is a forward-looking strategy for reaffirming and strengthening the contribution of space activities and space tools to the achievement of global agendas, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Paris Agreement. 

We are working to meet the objectives of the “Space2030” Agenda as part of our commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to bringing the benefits of space to Earth. The UN initiative known as Space4SDGs identifies how space applications can support its 2030 Agenda, including through earth observation and geolocation.