Legal Aspects Of Plane' Rocket Collisions

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28920, 13 June 1959, Page 11

Legal Aspects Of Plane' Rocket Collisions

(N.Z Pre*, Assoctation—Copvrtont)

NEW YORK, June 11 A croup of United Nations legal experts has recommended “early attention” to the possibility of collisions between space craft, particularly rockets, and conventional aeroplanes.

As launchings of space machines became more numerous and widespread, problems clearly would “arise in regard to the prevention of physical interference" with conventional planes, the group said. Governments could “give early attention to this matter and .

technical studies could usefully be undertaken,” its report said. The group, set up by the legal committee of the General Assembly’s Special Committee on Outer Space, stated its view that a comprehensive code for space activities was not practicable or desirable at the present stage of knowledge and development Premature codification, the group said, might prejudice subsequent efforts to develop a space law based on more complete understanding of the problems. The group was of the view that serious problems could arise if States claimed, on one ground or another, exclusive rights over all or part of a celestial body. But it did not consider problems

relating to the settlement and exploitation of celestial bodies required priority treatment. The groups’ report will be taken up by the full committee, headed by Dr. Koto Matsudalra, of Japan, at a later stage. A technical group is also preparing a report on scientific aspects of outer apace research.

The Soviet Union is boycotting the activities of all United Nations bodies currently dealing with outer space problems.