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DOI :10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126   IUP :10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126    Full Text (PDF)

Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes

Kerem Batır, Pervin Şeker

Space is now a predominant area for technological development, and its importance is increasing. This area was initially dominated by military activities but has hosted numerous agents over time. The launch of the Sputnik I satellite on October 4, 1957, marked a turning point in space exploration. This event signaled the beginning of the Space Age as the major powers continued their race for space. Activities involving space have increased in momentum since that time. The protection and regulation of space have become important because of interstate competition. The approaches of space powers and historical events were effective in the legal regulations. Moreover, some universal and unchangeable principles have been defined in legal regulations. In this context, the principle of “exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes” is significant. This principle has been interpreted in various ways, depending on the perspectives of actors vis-à-vis space. The current scenario of diversified actors and the expanding and changing structures of space-related activities necessitates a reevaluation of this principle, whose structural ambiguity renders the legality of some space activities controversial. Satellites represent one of the oldest and most important application areas of the space industry and their use evinces visible transformations. The dual use of satellites creates uncertainty in the context of the stated principle. The current circumstances thus necessitate a reconsideration of the relationships between space applications and the principle of peaceful use. This study examines the dual-use nature of satellites, citing examples of the principle of exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes.

Keywords: Space law, Space age, Satellite technology, Peaceful exploration and use of outer space, Dual-use technologies
DOI :10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126   IUP :10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126    Full Text (PDF)

Uzayın Barışçıl Amaçlarla Keşif ve Kullanımı İlkesi Bakımından Uyduların Kullanımı

Kerem Batır, Pervin Şeker

Uzay, giderek artan önemiyle günümüzde teknolojik gelişmenin en önemli alanlarından biri haline gelmiştir. Başlangıçta askeri faaliyetlerin yoğunlukta olduğu bu alan zaman içerisinde çok sayıda aktöre ev sahipliği yapmıştır. Alanın gelişimine yönelik kırılma 4 Ekim 1957 tarihinde Sputnik I uydusunun fırlatılmasıyla gerçekleşmiştir. Dönemin uzay güçleri arasındaki yarış sürerken yaşanan bu gelişme Uzay Çağı’nı başlatmıştır. Bu dönemden itibaren uzay faaliyetleri giderek hız kazanmıştır. Devletler arası rekabet hali, alanın korunması ve düzenlenmesini önemli hale getirmiştir. Alana yönelik oluşturulan hukuki düzenlemelerde dönemin uzay güçlerinin yaklaşımları ve tarihsel olaylar etkili olmuştur. Bununla birlikte hazırlanan andlaşma ve ilkelerde bazı evrensel ve değişmez ilkeler belirlenerek bu doğrultuda hareket edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Bu bağlamda alanın kullanımına ilişkin önemli evrensel ilkelerden biri ‘uzayın barışçıl amaçlarla keşif ve kullanımı’ ilkesidir. Bu ilke aktörlerin alana yönelik yaklaşımları doğrultusunda farklı biçimlerde yorumlanmıştır. Günümüzde ise gerek aktörlerin çeşitlenmesi gerekse alana yönelik faaliyetlerin artan ve değişen yapısı kavramı yeniden değerlendirmeyi gerektirmektedir. Bununla birlikte, kavramın yapısındaki belirsizlik hali bazı uzay faaliyetlerinin hukuki açıdan uygunluğunu tartışmalı hale getirmektedir. Uzay endüstrisinin en eski ve önemli uygulama alanlarından olan uydular, bu değişimin yaşandığı alanlardan biridir. Bugün gelinen noktada uyduların çift yönlü kullanımı bu bağlamda belirsizlik yaratmaktadır. Dolayısıyla gelinen durum, uzay uygulamalarının uzayın barışçıl amaçlarla keşif ve kullanımı ilkesiyle ilişkisini yeniden gözden geçirmeyi gerektirmektedir. Bu bağlamda makale, uyduların çift yönlü kullanımını uzayın barışçıl amaçlarla keşif ve kullanımı ilkesi bağlamında örnekler üzerinden incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords: Uzay hukuku, Uzay çağı, Uydu teknolojisi, Uzayın barışçıl amaçlarla keşif ve kullanımı, Çift yönlü teknolojiler

EXTENDED ABSTRACT


This study evaluated the use of satellites, which denote an important space-based tool for peaceful purposes’ which is one of the humanity. To achieve its objective, it adopted the perspective of a fundamental principle of space law: the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. Thus, the following research questions were posed for the study:

• Why are satellites used?

• How has the use of satellites changed in the historical context?

• What does the principle of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes mean by the term “peaceful purposes”?

• How is this term referenced in legal documents?

• What problems could be presented by the exploration and use of satellites for peaceful purposes and why?

Currently, the area of space law is intensively combines law and technology. Rapid technological developments emanate from the competition between space powers and reveal the need for permanent legal regulations.The unpredictable nature of space-related activities also mandates legal regulation. Scrutiny of the existing legal procedures discloses that they have not advanced at a similar pace to technological progression. This situation necessitates an examination of space activities in a legal context.

Satellites exemplify such rapidly evolving technological progress. In the beginning, they were used primarily by a limited number of states for military purposes. A paradigm shift occurred after the Cold War, which has made it necessary for activities to be assessed from a legal perspective. Space activities became classified as “old” and “new” in the scholarly literature because of the impact of the Cold War, which resulted in the intensive use of space by diverse actors and transformations in the ways space could be accessed. These changes are reflected in a graph generated from the quantitative data analyzed during the present study.

The paradigm shift in space exploration demands the assessment of current practices in a legal context. The present study examines the texts of international treaties and United Nations documents to conduct such an evaluation. This scrutiny includes articles from legal documents related to space law as well as areas accorded a status similar to space, for instance, the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. The study’s objective of investigating the use of relevant areas for peaceful purposes is highlighted in its examination of the relevant legal texts. Therefore, it focuses on elucidating the common construal of the concept of peaceful purposes and how this term should be evaluated in the context of space activities. The literature analysis reveals that the concept of peaceful purposes is inferred as use that is “nonaggressive” and “nonmilitary.”

The use of the term “nonaggressive” implies that the mere evaluation of aggression in military terms would be limiting. Therefore, it would be apposite to institute the idea of “peaceful purposes” as a category to examine whether the nature of space exploration activities is aggressive. Conversely, the use of the term “nonmilitary” suggests that military activities are incompatible with the concept of peace. Thus, space-related activities should be assessed as military and non-military activities. This literature review disclosed that the nature of unarmed military activities cannot be defined. Such actions are problematic because of the lack of an institutional basis from which the issue may be discussed in an international context. This situation demands discourse, especially because satellites form the focus of this study and their dual-use nature is considered.

This duality of use creates an uncertain area when satellites are considered in the context of the principle of exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes. For instance, remote sensing and communication satellites are frequently used in a dual manner. Similarly, commercial satellites are intensively deployed and are also used for dual purposes.

The 1991 Gulf War and the Russia–Ukraine War that began in 2022 are outstanding examples of such dual use of satellites. Cases such as the acquisition of rights to satellite images and the tracking of movements by nations by commercial satellites have been reported during these wars. Satellites have not yet become tools for armed activities; however, they have provided significant data flow for unarmed military activities. This fact evokes the question of whether the nature of such activities can still be deemed limited to the scope of the principle of the exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes. In addition, the present study reveals that the statement “exploration and use of space and satellites for peaceful purposes” encompasses an indeterminate area for the actors using satellites as well as the private agents who make them available. Accordingly, this study cites examples of satellite use and evaluates them in the light of the principle.


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APA

Batır, K., & Şeker, P. (2023). Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes. Public and Private International Law Bulletin, 43(2), 615-638. https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126


AMA

Batır K, Şeker P. Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes. Public and Private International Law Bulletin. 2023;43(2):615-638. https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126


ABNT

Batır, K.; Şeker, P. Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes. Public and Private International Law Bulletin, [Publisher Location], v. 43, n. 2, p. 615-638, 2023.


Chicago: Author-Date Style

Batır, Kerem, and Pervin Şeker. 2023. “Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes.” Public and Private International Law Bulletin 43, no. 2: 615-638. https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126


Chicago: Humanities Style

Batır, Kerem, and Pervin Şeker. “Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes.” Public and Private International Law Bulletin 43, no. 2 (May. 2024): 615-638. https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126


Harvard: Australian Style

Batır, K & Şeker, P 2023, 'Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes', Public and Private International Law Bulletin, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 615-638, viewed 3 May. 2024, https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126


Harvard: Author-Date Style

Batır, K. and Şeker, P. (2023) ‘Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes’, Public and Private International Law Bulletin, 43(2), pp. 615-638. https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126 (3 May. 2024).


MLA

Batır, Kerem, and Pervin Şeker. “Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes.” Public and Private International Law Bulletin, vol. 43, no. 2, 2023, pp. 615-638. [Database Container], https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126


Vancouver

Batır K, Şeker P. Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes. Public and Private International Law Bulletin [Internet]. 3 May. 2024 [cited 3 May. 2024];43(2):615-638. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126 doi: 10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126


ISNAD

Batır, Kerem - Şeker, Pervin. “Use of Satellites in Terms of the Principle of Exploration and Use of Space for Peaceful Purposes”. Public and Private International Law Bulletin 43/2 (May. 2024): 615-638. https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1274126



TIMELINE


Submitted30.03.2023
Accepted28.11.2023
Published Online28.12.2023

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