The legal status of spacecraft with reference to nationality and regions of operation.

The course on which this study embarks is largely uncharted by positive law. Although man's technical achievements in outer space already stand as monumental guideposts to scientists, the framers devoted to founding the legal regime are only beginning to formulate the structure through which law and order can be effected in this new region. It is, I believe, wise and commendable that the policy making bodies of the world have not been driven by a modern cry for progress in space law and have not set about solving with a sense of urgency imaginary problems based on prophecies of disputes and conflicts in the unexplored, unorganized, and unpopulated region of outer space. The law has kept pace with the needs of society. Legal vacuums have not occurred because of the evolution of the common law and the law of nations was based on the customs and usages of the participants in the particular community concerned. Substantially the same condition and evolution can be expected in the development of space law. [...