Sovereignty and Jurisdiction in Space Law

This memo analyses the issues of sovereignty and jurisdiction in outer space. The first part briefly reviews the evolution of space exploration and why it became necessary to discuss sovereignty and jurisdiction in space. The second part examines the issues of sovereignty and jurisdiction in outer space as currently defined by international laws and treaties. The third part provides a critique of the current treaties on outer space, whether they provide adequate incentives for protection, but at the same time whether they provide any incentive for the continuation of exploration. Lastly, part four provides a number of recommendations on space law that can lead to a better outcome for humanity.