Taylor’s Lakeside Campus Model United Nations 2010| I Annual Session

Forum: Special Political and Decolonization Committee

Issue: Territorialisation and Colonization of Outer Space

Student Officer: Rick Harting and Oh Yea Ji

Position: Chair of SPECPOL

Introduction

The idea of space colonization can be found in the oldest myths and cultural legends, but the
first account of a real colony can be found in the novel 'The Brick Moon' (Hale, 1869), in which a group
of workers are accidentally catapulted into space inside a brick structure designed to aid in navigation.
Not to be dissuaded by science, these workers all survive in their little brick colony and choose to remain
there forever. Other authors who elaborated on the concept of self-contained worlds in space were
Verne (1877) and Lasswitz (1897). Tsiolkovsky (1895) acknowledged the concept of a space station
from a scientific and engineering point of view, and set about expanding on the idea to create a feasible
design for a fully self-contained habitat, including artificial gravity, solar power and ecology (Tsiolkovsky,
1903).

Definition of Key Terms

Space Colonization

Space Colonization (space settlement, space humanization, space habitation) is autonomous

(self-sufficient) human habitation outside of Earth. It is a long-term goal of national space
programs.[www.wordiq.com/definition/Space_colonization]

Territorialisation

The act of organizing as a territory with in another nation or location of choice.

General Overview

One of the major environmental concerns of our time is the increasing consumption of Earth's resources
to sustain our way of life. As more and more nations make the climb up from agricultural to industrial
nations, their standard of life will improve, which will mean that more and more people will be competing
for the same resources. Space colonies could be the answer to the limitations of using the resources
of just one world out of the many that orbit the Sun. The colonists would mine the Moon and the minor
planets and build beamed power satellites that would supplement or even replace power plants on the
 Taylor’s Lakeside Campus Model United Nations 2010| I Annual Session

Earth. The colonists could also take advantage of the plentiful raw materials, unlimited solar power,
vacuum, and microgravity in other ways, to create products that we cannot while inside the cocoon of
Earth's atmosphere and gravity. [http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/hqlibrary/pathfinders/colony.htm]

UN involvement, Relevant Resolutions, Treaties and Events

Since 1966, the UN has facilitated the establishment of treaties dedicated to outer space, as
well as their underlying legal principles. These treaties and principles cover a broad range of topics,
ranging from freedom of exploration to regulation of scientific research and the exploitation of extra-
terrestrial resources. Every one of these treaties emphasises the basic premise that everything beyond
our atmosphere belongs to all mankind.

The 1966 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use
of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies ('The Outer Space Treaty')

Provides that space exploration shall be carried out for the benfit of all countries, irrespective
of their degree of development. It also seeks to maintain outer space as the province of all mankind,
free for exploration and use by all States and not subject to national appropriation. Entered into force
10 October 1967, 95 ratications and 27 signatures (as of 1 February 1999). [http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/
SpaceLaw/outerspt.html]

The 1967 Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the
Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space ('The Rescue Agreement')

Provides for aiding the crews of spacecraft in the event of accident or emergency landing. It also
establishes a procedure for returning to a launching authority a space object found beyond the territorial
limits of that authority. Entered into force 3 December 1968, 85 ratifications and 26 signatures (as of 1
February 1999). [http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/rescue.html]

The 1979 Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial
Bodies ('The Moon Agreement')

Elaborates, in more specific terms, the principles relating to the Moon and other celestial
bodies set out in the 1966 Treaty. It also sets up the basis for the future regulation of the exploration
and exploitation of natural resources found on such bodies. Entered into force 18 December 1979,
9 ratifications and 5 signatures (as of 1 February 1999). [http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/moon.html]
 Taylor’s Lakeside Campus Model United Nations 2010| I Annual Session

The Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space adopted in
1992,

Recognizes that nuclear power sources are essential for some missions, but that such systems
should be designed so as to minimize public exposure to radiation in the case of an accident. [http://
www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/en/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares 47 0068.html]

Evaluation of Previous Attempts to Resolve the Issue

Countries most willing to support the idea of opening space to territorialisation and colonisation
would be those best placed to take advantage of the situation, and those who have strategic concerns
regarding its use. Countries like the United States of America, China and Russia, who have experienced
and highly developed space programs, would likely push very hard for the right to explore and claim
territory in space. The economic and strategic significance of extra-terrestrial territory is overwhelming,
when as mentioned earlier, terrestrial resources are not only nite but dwindling, while those in space are
effectively limitless. The country that could gain reliable access to vast quantities of raw materials and
energy would have enormous leverage in global trade and politics. [www.informaworld.com/index/783200460.pdf]

Possible Solutions

● Sovereignty of territory claimed on extra-terrestrial space

● Distribution of territory on newly discovered celestial bodies
● Drawing of territorial boundaries on celestial bodies
● Drawing of territorial boundaries in space
● Limitations on defensive technologies within extra-terrestrial territory

Not Possible Solutions

● Re-state the existing Outer Space Treaty.

● Discuss the dangers of alien invasion. Or alien contact.
● Discuss the militarization of space, unless specifically dealing with the use of the military to
enforce territorial boundaries.
● Discuss matters of developing planets for the support of human life, etc.

Bibliography

Please see though out the report for citations.