The Role of Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements in International Space Cooperation

Published in Space Policy (2016), Vol. 35, p. 1 – 7.

Abstract: International cooperation has been successfully conducted in a wide range of areas in the space field. Over the past years, many bilateral and multilateral agreements have been concluded, providing solid legal basis for space cooperation. This article examines the important role of these agreements in the process of international space cooperation and put forward suggestions on how to further facilitate the conclusion of international agreements so that international space cooperation can be carried out more effectively. The article concludes that international agreements are important tools to realize international space cooperation and that we will need to further study possible means to promote international space cooperation in wider scope through the conclusion of international agreements. …more