The Changing Concept of Sovereignty in Outer Space

Since World War I, the accepted principle has been that countries can direct flight over their regions or regional oceans. Apparently, nobody was genuinely worried about satellites and space vessels when the different traditions tending to over flight were drawn. In any case, the space soon gets to be noteworthy. One of the most punctual issues was exactly how far national sovereign power reaches out: when does airspace stop and space start. The issues surrounding sovereignty over outer space are likely to become ever more critical as globalisation, growing pressure on resources and the need for energy and national security become acute, and the resolution of special delimitation disputes seems likely to become an important question in the twenty-first century. This project begins shall constitute an examination of sovereignty and exploitation of resources on earth and in outer space. It provides a good overview of relevant international space law, focusing on provisions of the Outer Space Treaty and the Moon Agreement and other treaties so as to answer the debatable question of sovereignty over outer space.