The ITAR Treaty and Its Implications for U.S. Space Exploration Policy and the Commercial Space Industry

Abstract

This article addresses the controversy surrounding the application of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to commercial space technology. It first gives a historical background for the classification of commercial space technology as munitions, Then, following a description of the perceived effects of ITAR on the industry, it evaluates the possibility of alleviating those effects through bilateral treaty instruments.