The Legality of Keep-Out, Operational, and Safety Zones in Outer Space

This chapter examines situations in which, as an exception to the general principle of the freedom of exploration and use of outer space by all States, a State might legally be permitted to declare a keep-out zone in outer space. It commences with two zones that are likely to be legally recognized: those declared by the UN Security Council acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and those declared by belligerents in the immediate area of operations in an armed conflict. It then examines the potential application to outer space of exclusion zones similar to those recognized in naval and air warfare. Finally, it examines two zones applicable in peacetime which may develop in space law in the future: a possible space object identification zone based on the air defense identification zone, and possible safety zones for space resource activities on celestial bodies.