The laws of space

From April 1 to May 28, a thematic book exhibition "The laws of space" dedicated to Aviation and Cosmonautics Day, as well as the 90th anniversary of the birth of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, opened in the Legal Information reading room (room 207b).

The era of human space exploration began with a heroic flight in near-Earth orbit of a citizen of the USSR, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who flew on April 12, 1961. After him, whole crews went up into space, and a man dared to get out of a spaceship into outer space. The activities of States in the exploration and use of outer space have led to the creation of a new branch of international law – space law.

International space law dates back to 1967, when the UN General Assembly adopted and opened for signature the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

Over the next decade, the foundation of this branch of international law was practically formed: the main legal institutions of space law were consolidated in five international UN treaties, which today remain guiding principles for States engaged in the exploration and use of outer space. International space law is also in close cooperation with national legislative acts and has regional peculiarities. The space activities of legal entities and individuals are regulated by national legislation.

Our country has gone from the development of individual materials and components during the Soviet period to the creation of its own satellites and Flight Control Center during the years of independence. It remains to wait quite a bit – and a new galaxy of Belarusian cosmonauts will join the international team in Earth orbit.

The exhibition presents more than 70 documents in Russian and Belarusian.

Among the presented publications are collections of historical documents, collections of articles, materials of reports and scientific conferences, monographs, memoirs, abstracts of dissertations.

The exhibition includes the following thematic sections:

• Space activities in the international legal context
• International space law as a branch of international law
• The history of cosmonautics in documents
• Belarus: the way to space
• Military space: without the "secret" stamp
• Environmental protection in the field of rocket and space activities

The exhibition will be of interest to historians, specialists in the field of international law, as well as students and cadets, undergraduates, teachers of aerospace universities, as well as all those interested in space law and practical cosmonautics.

Useful links:

• Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space (1963)
• Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on the Review of the Status and Application of the Five UN Treaties on Outer Space (2023)
• Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused to Space Objects (1972)
• Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1975)
• Agreement on the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1979)
• Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1968)

The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library's working hours. Entrance to the exhibition is available by the library ticket or ticket of the library's social and cultural center.

Phone number for inquiries: (375 17) 293 27 28.

The material was provided by the Service Department with official documents.