Safety Zones: A Near-Term Legal Issue on the Moon

Abstract

International space law attributes no special status to the area surrounding a lunar installation. Despite this lack of recognition, the Artemis Accords - recently adopted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and its international partner agencies - contemplate the establishment of buffer areas around lunar installations. Accordingly, the legality of these areas, referred to as "safety zones," is a near-term issue in international space law. This paper aims to place safety zones in their legal context.

Keywords: International space law, lunar exploration

JEL Classification: K33