Obligations of States Regarding the Activities of Small Satellite Private Companies

In recent years, small satellites have brought many non-governmental actors into outer space domain because of many advantages they offer in comparison with large satellites. The activities of small satellites, like any space activity, are high-risk and may cause damage. Under the existing space treaties, it is States that are held liable if the space activities of private companies launching small satellites cause damage. The basis is Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty. According to this article, member States have an international responsibility for activities of non-governmental entities in the outer space. The appropriate State shall guarantee compliance of activities carried out with the provisions of the Treaty, authorize and continuously supervise national space activities. By collecting library data and descriptive-analytical method, this research tries to determine the State's obligations towards the activities of private companies of small satellites. For this purpose, Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty and the manner of fulfilling mentioned obligations are examined in the national space Legislations of the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, as well as the regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.