a component part of the space object, rather than the space object per se, would not relieve the launching State from liability. Article 1 (d) defined the term "space object" to include "component parts of a space object as well as its launch vehicle and parts thereof." COPUOS has been consistent in its efforts to define or to describe a space object. Thus, pursuant to Article 1 (b) of the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space, November 12, 1974, "The term 'space object' includes component parts of a space object as well as its launch vehicle and parts thereof." Thus, for definitional purposes, the concept of a "space object" has a wide meaning. Doubt has been expressed as to adequacy of the definition of a space object. This was troublesome to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in 1972. It obtained a memorandum from the Department of State which indicated that "space object" would include "the payload and fuel."41 The memo continued: "It appears to be the view of most international lawyers that the term 'space object' includes any object launched by man for the purpose of orbiting or escaping the celestial body from which it is launched. . . . The test is not only whether the object does go into orbit or beyond, but also whether any object which is launched by rocket propulsion is intended to go into orbit or beyond. ... It should U.N. Doc. A/9812. This agreement entered into force on September 15, 1976. The United States is a party to the agreement. Staff Report, p. 25. Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, U.S. Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations, Executive Report 92-38 to Accompany Ex M, 92nd Cong., 2nd Sess., p. 9, The Executive Report refers to public hearings conducted on August 3, 1972. These were not printed, but much of the testimony received by the Committee appears in the Executive Report.
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