Dr. Edgar Mitchell addresses the need for a comprehensive space weapons treaty
The Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space establishes a framework and procedures to assure that space will be a neutral realm from which all classes of space-based weapons are banned and from which no hostile action shall be taken toward beings or objects on Earth or in space from space.
This Treaty invites nation states to become signatories to this treaty and invites all Nation States, with recognition to Indigenous Nations and cosmos neighbors, to commit to plan and assist in the orderly development and implementation of a framework and procedures that will assure and verify that space is and will remain to be a peaceful neutral realm from which all classes of space-based weapons are banned in perpetuity. Peaceful international cooperative space exploration, research and development can continue as now is the time to replace strategies and technologies of violence with strategies of Space Age cooperation that solve problems instead of creating new ones.
The Parties to this Treaty:
Reaffirm the urgency of preventing a destabilizing, threatening, and costly arms race in space,
Recognize that an agreement by Treaty to create a weapons-free space domain to ensure universal cooperation in space will save huge sums that would otherwise be expended for a dangerous and provocative space arms race,
Recognize that eliminating space-based weapons is more easily accomplished by agreement before any further investment is made to place them in permanent positions based in space,
Confirm that it is the obligation of all State leaders to ban all space-based weapons including the intention to weaponize space, the moon or any celestial body or to use any space-based technology as a space-based weapon, using the foundation of all relevant previous, current and proposed treaties now with a focus specifically on space-based weapons,
Reaffirm the urgent need for international agreements on concrete proposals and projects deriving from confidence-building, world cooperative space ventures which will replace and prevent an arms race in outer space,
Recognize that information and data gained from cooperative space exploration and development will provide unlimited benefits and opportunities to all humankind in areas of health, education, the economy, mutual security, energy, and the environment,
Acknowledge that all Nation States will be important allies to each other for real security and development, and that our national and international space ventures and policies must reflect this reality,
Realize that the demonstrated capability of missiles or nuclear and other possible weapons technologies are threats to all including all agreements on Earth if they are permanently based in space with no treaty law to ban the weapons technologies and this reality serves notice of our limited understanding of physics and of the clearly dangerous consequences of continuing to escalate destructive technologies into space that could be intended to be weapons of control and domination or that could be intended to cause harm to any object or being on Earth or in space from space,
Affirm that the possibility of reclaiming and initiating a real peaceful future for humankind in a safe environment on Earth is intimately linked with curbing our violence toward each other and Earth, and with preparing to survive as Earth heals herself after decades of suffering and destruction that it is now time to stop,
Note that every class of space-based weapons, including weapons of mass destruction or precise destruction, is a symbol of fear for which violence provides no remedy,
Recognize that space must forever be free of man-made hazards, and must be a passageway to open the secrets of our past and the new challenges and opportunities of our future,
Inspired by the great prospects of Earth taking its rightful place in the Cosmos as all world citizens share the fruits of their cultures with respect for each other and all humankind,
Reaffirm that preventing placement of space-based weapons will avert otherwise inevitable resulting consequences, risks, and dangers to the commitment to establishing real and possible peace on Earth and peace in space now,
Believe that world cooperation in space will contribute to developing mutual understanding and to strengthening security based on a new form of verification and enforcement that applies the latest tools of technology for observation and information sharing because cooperative relations and projects in space already build more trust and transparency and can be enhanced for all,
Understand that this space Treaty is now verifiable and enforceable via applying cooperative monitoring, observation, and information sharing techniques both existing and forthcoming in the context of a new frequency of consciousness that commits to keeping space free of the intention to turn technology based in space into weapons to be used against beings or objects on Earth or in space are inspired by the great peace time prospects, benefits, and opportunities for stimulating the economies, jobs, profits, products and services applied directly to solve urgent and potential problems of humans and the rest of the biosphere,
Recognize that every country’s space assets can be protected only by mutual cooperation and verification, and that this Treaty will accomplish this objective,
Realize we are one interconnected and interdependent human species on our home planet, and we are determined now to live in peace with all our neighbors,
Affirm that it is the policy of Signatories to this Treaty to permanently ban all space-based weapons and to proceed into space cooperatively, and that all Signatories are convinced that this Treaty will further the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
The Nation States Signatories to this Treaty agree to the following Articles:
ARTICLE I
Each Nation State signing and ratifying this Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space shall:
1. Implement a ban on the research, development, testing, manufacturing, and deployment of all space-based weapons;
2. Implement a ban on the use of space-based weapons the purpose of which is to destroy or damage objects or beings located in space or on Earth;
3. Terminate any current research, development, testing, production, manufacturing, and deployment of all space-based weapons;
4. Each Nation State Signatory to this Treaty shall support and encourage other Nation States to sign, ratify, and implement the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space. Nothing in this Treaty shall prohibit the following space-based ventures that are not activities related to space-based weapons:
a. Space exploration;
b. Space research and development;
c. Testing, manufacturing, production or deployment of non-weapons systems not prohibited are commercial, civil, entrepreneurial or military space-based ventures that are confirmed to not be any part of a space-based weapon system or to have no intention to become or support for a space-based weapon or system;
5. Cooperative space-based ventures with all peoples are encouraged;
6. Upon signing of this Treaty, cooperative research and development of verifiable defenses specifically against impacts from space debris, natural celestial asteroid and meteor bodies will be permitted.
After the first nine (9) Nation States sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Secretary General of the United Nations shall submit to the General Assembly of the United Nations the official recognition of this Treaty henceforth as ratified law.
ARTICLE II
Each Nation State Signatory to this Treaty shall not base any weapon on any object or celestial body located in space. Permitted is the establishment of space-based related military bases or operations, including for communication, navigation, reconnaissance, early warning, remote sensing, and surveillance that does not interfere with operations of any other satellites, with living and working in space, or with space ventures, provided that it can be verified that there is no intention to use any space-based technology or system as a space-based weapon.
The use of military technology or personnel for peaceful space-based purposes is not prohibited. The use of any equipment or facility in space related to the research and development, testing, manufacturing, production, deployment or application of space-based weapons is prohibited.
ARTICLE III
1. Nation State Signatories to this Treaty agree to the establishment, equipping, and organizing of a United Nations Peace in Space Office;
2. This Peace in Space Office shall be composed of representatives from diverse areas such as commercial, civilian, entrepreneurial and military sectors that will check registration of space ventures and determine methods for monitoring compliance, including verification and enforcement measures that will be based on cooperative ventures and enhanced communication that will maintain the permanent commitment of all Nation State Signatories to this Treaty;
3. The Peace in Space Office is mandated to monitor outer space to verify and to enforce this Treaty using the latest tools of technology and information sharing;
4. The Peace in Space Office will identify any entity or program that engages in activities contrary to the provisions of this Treaty and will work with all Signatories to correct this situation via cooperation, not confrontation.
ARTICLE IV
1. The term “space” and “outer space” is defined as the space extending above the earth at an altitude of 100 kilometers above sea level. Weapons banned by this Treaty are considered to be space-based if they are located at or above 100 kilometers above sea level;
2. Space-based weapons are defined as being anything that is based in space that can be used with intention to damage or destroy objects or beings in space or on Earth from a location based in space;
3. This Treaty bans all space-based weapons, including the dual-use of any space-based object or technology when it is located in space with the intention to be used as a weapon that could damage or destroy any object or being on Earth or in space;
4. Weapons launched from the Earth that travel through space but are not based in space are not banned by this Treaty;
5. The terms space-based weapon and space-based weapons systems are defined for the purpose of this Treaty in order to identify weapons, devices, or systems that are based in any space location for the purpose of damaging or destroying, from space, any object or being that is located in space or on Earth;
6. This Treaty prohibits:
a. Firing one or more weapons based in space that would be intended to collide with any object or being in space;
b. Detonating any explosive device based in space in close proximity to any object or being in space;
c. Directing any space-based source of energy offensively against any object or being in space or on Earth;
d. Basing controls or systems of any space-based weapons that are or could be intended to collide with or inflict damage upon objects or beings in any location in space including on the moon, any celestial body, on a satellite, craft, or on any form of space station.
ARTICLE V
1. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs shall be responsible to coordinate the first meetings between members of the United Nations and representatives of Signatory Nation States and Indigenous First Nations and cosmos neighbors.
2. A permanent Liaison for earth and space communication will be available to the United Nations Security Council to answer questions and to provide counsel on issues of security and development of earth and space;
3. The Liaison will assist in identifying and neutralizing any attempt to deploy or use any space-based weapon.
ARTICLE VI
1. The provisions of this Treaty that ban all space-based weapons shall apply to all Nation States, whether or not they are Signatories to this Treaty;
2. This Treaty shall enter into force upon the signing and ratification of the first nine (9) Nation State Signatories.
ARTICLE VII
1. This Treaty shall be open to all Nation States for signature. Any State that does not sign this Treaty before its entry into force may accede to it at any future time;
2. This Treaty shall be subject to ratification by Signatory Nation States. Instruments of ratification or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the United Nations;
3. This Treaty shall enter into force upon the deposit of instruments of ratification by nine (9) Governments. For any Nation State whose instruments of ratification or accession are deposited subsequent to the entry into force of this Treaty, their ratification shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of their instruments of ratification or accession;
4. The Depositary Governments shall promptly inform all Signatory and acceding Nation States of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each instrument of ratification of and accession to this Treaty, and the date of its entry into force and other notices;
5. This Treaty shall be registered by the Depositary Governments pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations;
6. This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration.
ARTICLE VIII
1. Any Nation State Signatory to the Treaty may propose amendments to this Treaty;
2. Amendments to the Treaty shall enter into force upon acceptance by a majority vote of the Nation State Signatories;
3. The text of any proposed amendment shall be submitted to the United Nations Depositary who shall promptly notify all Nation State Signatories.
ARTICLE IX
This Treaty, of which the English, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish and Chinese texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Depositary Governments. Certified copies of this Treaty shall be transmitted by the Depositary Governments to the Governments of the Signatory and the acceding Nation States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized by their respective governments, has
Signed this Treaty_____________________________________________________
At the location of _____________________________________________________
On this date of _______________________________________________________
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