Home Content Chapter 4 Thai Version CONVENTION
ON INTERNATIONAL LIABILITY FOR
DAMAGE CAUSED BY SPACE OBJECTS1
(Opened for Signature
at London, Moscow and Washington
on 29 March 1972). . .
ARTICLE I
For the purposes of this Convention:
(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 inter-governmental organisations;
(b) The term "launching" includes attempted launching;
(c) The term "launching State" means:
(i) a state which launches or procures the launching of a space object;
(ii) a State from whose territory or facility a space object is launched;
(d) The term "space object" includes component parts of a space object as well as its launch vehicle and parts thereof.
ARTICLE II
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.
. . .
ARTICLE IV
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:
(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;
(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.
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.
1 United Nations Treaty Series vol. 961 at 187; I.L.M. vol. 965 at 101 (1971); Am. J. Int’l L. vol. 66 at 702 (1971). In force on 1 September 1972. Thailand is not a party to this Convention. Back
| Home | Content | Chapter 4 | Thai Version |