Chapter Six LIABILITY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE SPS AND ITS COMPONENT PARTS 6.1 Genesis of Liability Concepts in Space Law Man's ingenuous use of the space environment is unquestionably still at an infant stage. Uses, both old and new, will unquestionably result in misuses. International space law has been constructed on the basis that lawful uses are those that are peaceful and which are beneficial to mankind. Thus, international space law has been designed not so much to condemn misuse in general, but rather to prohibit particular conduct that is so unacceptable to the world community that it must be considered to be unlawful. In the absence of prohibition conduct is presumed to be lawful. The first steps to establish an international legal regime for the space environment were taken by the UN General Assembly when it adopted Resolution 1348 (XIII) on December 13, 1958. The Ad Hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was asked to prepare a report on the legal problems to be foreseen. With regard to international responsibility and liability for damages formal culmination occurred with the inclusion in the 1967 Principles Treaty of Articles 7 and 9. Article 7 principles were confirmed and extended in the Convention on the International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects of March 29, 1972 24 UST 2389, TIAS 7762. The Agreement entered into force for the United States on October 9, 1973. See Appendix C.
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