Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts

Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts in the United States

Entered into force:  3 December 1968

The Contracting Parties,

Noting the great importance of the Treaty on Principles Governing the
Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including
the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, which calls for the rendering of all
possible assistance to astronauts in the event of accident, distress or
emergency landing, the prompt and safe return of astronauts, and the
return of objects launched into outer space,

Desiring to develop and give further concrete expression to these duties,

Wishing to promote international co-operation in the peaceful exploration
and use of outer space,

Prompted by sentiments of humanity,

Have agreed on the following:

Article 1

Each Contracting Party which receives information or discovers that the
personnel of a spacecraft have suffered accident or are experiencing
conditions of distress or have made an emergency or unintended landing in
territory under its jurisdiction or on the high seas or in any other
place not under the jurisdiction of any State shall immediately:

(a) notify the launching authority or, if it cannot identify and
immediately communicate with the launching authority, immediately
make a public announcement by all appropriate means of
communication at its disposal;

(b) notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who should
disseminate the information without delay by all appropriate means
of communication at his disposal.

Article 2

If, owing to accident, distress, emergency or unintended landing, the
personnel of a spacecraft land in territory under the jurisdiction of a
Contracting Party, it shall immediately take all possible steps to rescue
them and render them all necessary assistance. It shall inform the
launching authority and also the Secretary-General of the United Nations
of the steps it is taking and of their progress. If assistance by the
launching authority would help to effect a prompt rescue or would
contribute substantially to the effectiveness of search and rescue
operations, the launching authority shall co-operate with the Contracting
Party with a view to the effective conduct of search and rescue
operations. Such operations shall be subject to the direction and control
of the Contracting Party, which shall act in close and continuing
consultation with the launching authority.

Article 3

If information is received or it is discovered that the personnel of a
spacecraft have alighted on the high seas or in any other place not under
the jurisdiction of any State, those Contracting Parties which are in a
position to do so shall, if necessary, extend assistance in search and
rescue operations for such personnel to assure their speedy rescue. They
shall inform the launching authority and the Secretary-General of the
United Nations of the steps they are taking and of their progress.

Article 4

If, owing to accident, distress, emergency or unintended landing, the
personnel of a spacecraft land in territory under the jurisdiction of a
Contracting Party or have been found on the high seas or in any other
place not under the jurisdiction of any State, they shall be safely and
promptly returned to representatives of the launching authority.


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