The States Parties to this Convention,
Recognising the common interest of all mankind in furthering the exploration and use
of outer space for peaceful purposes,
Recalling the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use
of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,
Taking into consideration that, notwithstanding the precautionary measures to be taken
by States and international intergovernmental organisations involved in the launching
of space objects, damage may on occasion be caused by such objects,
Recognising the need to elaborate effective international rules and procedures concerning
liability for damage caused by space objects and to ensure, in particular, the prompt
payment under the terms of this Convention of a full and equitable measure of compensation
to victims of such damage,
Believing that the establishment of such rules and procedures will contribute to the
strengthening of international co-operation in the field of the exploration and use
of outer space for paceful purposes,
Have agreed on the following:
For the purposes of this Convention:
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(a) The term “damage” means loss of life, personal injury or other impairment of health;
or loss of or damage to property of States or of persons, natural or juridical, or
property of international intergovernmental organisations;
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(b) The term “launching” includes attempted launching;
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(c) The term “launching State” means:
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(d) The term, “space object” includes component parts of a space object as well as its
launch vehicle and parts thereof.
A launching State shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused
by its space object on the surface of the earth or to aircraft in flight.
In the event of damage being caused elsewhere than on the surface of the earth to
a space object of one launching State or to persons or property on board such a space
object by a space object of another launching State, the latter shall be liable only
if the damage is due to its fault or the fault of persons for whom it is responsible.
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1 In the event of damage being caused elsewhere than on the surface of the earth to
a space object of one launching State or to persons or property on board such a space
object by a space object of another launching State, and of damage thereby being caused
to a third State or to its natural or juridical persons, the first two States shall
be jointly and severally liable to the third State, to the extent indicated by the
following:
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(a) If the damage has been caused to the third State on the surface of the earth or to
aircraft in flight, their liability to the third State shall be absolute;
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(b) If the damage has been caused to a space object of the third State or to persons or
property on board that space object elsewhere than on the surface of the earth, their
liability to the third State shall be based on the fault of either of the first two
States or on the fault of persons for whom either is responsible.
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2 In all cases of joint and several liability referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article,
the burden of compensation for the damage shall be apportioned between the first two
States in accordance with the extent to which they were at fault; if the extent of
the fault of each of these States cannot be established, the burden of compensation
shall be apportioned equally between them. Such apportionment shall be without prejudice
to the right of the third State to seek the entire compensation due under this Convention
from any or all of the launching States which are jointly and severally liable.
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1 Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, exoneration from absolute
liability shall be granted to the extent that a launching State establishes that the
damage has resulted either wholly or partially from gross negligence or from an act
or omission done with intent to cause damage on the part of a claimant State or of
natural or juridical persons it represents.
The provisions of this Convention shall not apply to damage caused by a space object
of a launching State to:
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(a) nationals of that launching State;
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(b) foreign nationals during such time as they are participating in the operation of that
space object from the time of its launching or at any stage thereafter until its descent,
or during such time as they are in the immediate vicinity of a planned launching or
recovery area as the result of an invitation by that launching State.
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2 If the State of nationality has not presented a claim, another State may, in respect
of damage sustained in its territory by any natural or juridical person, present a
claim to a launching State.
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3 If neither the State of nationality nor the State in whose territory the damage was
sustained has presented a claim or notified its intention of presenting a claim, another
State may, in respect of damage sustained by its permanent residents, present a claim
to a launching State.
A claim for compensation for damage shall be presented to a launching State through
diplomatic channels. If a State does not maintain diplomatic relations with the launching
State concerned, it may request another State to present its claim to that launching
State or otherwise represent its interests under this Convention. It may also present
its claim through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, provided the claimant
State and the launching State are both Members of the United Nations.
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2 If, however, a State does not know of the occurrence of the damage or has not been
able to identify the launching State which is liable, it may present a claim within
one year following the date on which it learned of the aforementioned facts; however,
this period shall in no event exceed one year following the date on which the State
could reasonably be expected to have learned of the facts through the exercise of
due diligence.
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3 The time-limits specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall apply even if
the full extent of the damage may not be known. In this event, however, the claimant
State shall be entitled to revise the claim and submit additional documentation after
the expiration of such time-limits until one year after the full extent of the damage
is known.
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2 Nothing in this Convention shall prevent a State, or natural or juridical persons
it might represent, from pursuing a claim in the courts or administrative tribunals
or agencies of a launching State. A State shall not, however, be entitled to present
a claim under this Convention in respect of the same damage for which a claim is being
pursued in the courts or administrative tribunals or agencies of a launching State
or under another international agreement which is binding on the States concerned.
The compensation which the launching State shall be liable to pay for damage under
this Convention shall be determined in accordance with the international law and the
principles of justice and equity, in order to provide such reparation in respect of
the damage as will restore the person, natural or juridical, State or international
organisation on whose behalf the claim is presented to the condition which would have
existed if the damage had not occurred.
Unless the claimant State and the State from which compensation is due under this
Convention agree on another form of compensation, the compensation shall be paid in
the currency of the claimant State or, if that State so requests, in the currency
of the State from which compensation is due.
If no settlement of a claim is arrived at through diplomatic negotiations as provided
for in Article IX, within one year from the date on which the claimant State notifies
the launching State that it has submitted the documentation of its claim, the parties
concerned shall establish a Claims Commission at the request of either party.
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1 The Claims Commission shall be composed of three members: one appointed by the claimant
State, one appointed by the launching State and the third member, the Chairman, to
be chosen by both parties jointly. Each party shall make its appointment within two
months of the request for the establishment of the Claims Commission.
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1 If one of the parties does not make its appointment within the stipulated period,
the Chairman shall, at the request of the other party, constitute a single-member
Claims Commission.
No increase in the membership of the Claims Commission shall lake place by reason
of two or more claimant States or launching States being joined in any one proceeding
before the Commission. The claimant States so joined shall collectively appoint one
member of the Commission in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as
would be the case for a single claimant State. When two or more launching States are
so joined, they shall collectively appoint one member of the Commission in the same
way. If the claimant States or the launching States do not make the appointment within
the stipulated period, the Chairman shall constitute a single-member Commission.
The Claims Commission shall decide the merits of the claim for compensation and determine
the amount of compensation payable, if any.
The expenses in regard to the Claims Commission shall be borne equally by the parties,
unless otherwise decided by the Commission.
If the damage caused by a space object presents a large-scale danger to human life
or seriously interferes with the living conditions of the population or the functioning
of vital centres, the States Parties, and in particular the launching State, shall
examine the possibility of rendering appropriate and rapid assistance to the State
which has suffered the damage, when it so requests. However, nothing in this Article
shall affect the rights or obligations of the States Parties under this Convention.
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3 If an international intergovernmental organisation is liable for damage by virtue
of the provisions of this Convention, that organisation and those of its members which
are States Parties to this Convention shall be jointly and severally liable; provided,
however, that:
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(a) any claim for compensation in respect of such damage shall be first presented to the
organisation;
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(b) only where the organisation has not paid, within a period of six months, any sum agreed
or determined to be due as compensation for such damage, the claimant State may invoke
the liability of the members which are States Parties to this Convention for the payment
of that sum.
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4 Any claim, pursuant to the provisions of this Convention, for compensation in respect
of damage caused to an organisation which has made a declaration in accordance with
paragraph 1 of this Article shall be presented by a State member of the organisation
which is a State Party to this Convention.
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2 This Convention shall be subject to ratification by signatory States. Instruments
of ratification and instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Governments
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics and the United States of America, which are hereby designated the Depositary
Governments.
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5 The Depositary Governments shall promptly inform all signatory and acceding States
of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each instrument of ratification
of and accession to this Convention, the date of its entry into force and other notices.
Any State Party to this Convention may propose amendments to this Convention. Amendments
shall enter into force for each State Party to the Convention accepting the amendments
upon their acceptance by a majority of the States Parties to the Convention and thereafter
for each remaining State Party on the date of acceptance by it.
Ten years after the entry into force of this Convention, the question of the review
of this Convention shall be included in the provisional agenda of the United Nations
General Assembly in order to consider, in the light of past application of the Convention,
whether it requires revision. However, at any time after the Convention has been in
force for five years, and at the request of one third of the States Parties to the
Convention, and with the concurrence of the majority of the States Parties, a conference
of the States Parties shall be convened to review this Convention.
Any State Party to this Convention may give notice of its withdrawal from the Convention
one year after its entry into force by written notification to the Depositary Governments.
Such withdrawal shall take effect one year from the date of receipt of this notification.
This Convention, of which the English, Russian, French, Spanish and Chinese texts
are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Depositary Governments.
Duly certified copies of this Convention shall be transmitted by the Depositary Governments
to the Governments of the signatory and acceding States.