The Moon Treaty
The Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies builds on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and reaffirms the principle that the Moon and celestial bodies should only be used for peaceful purposes. In particular it makes clear that no hostile acts may be conducted on or from the Moon. States are consequently prohibited from constructing military bases, conducting weapons tests, and engaging in military operations on the Moon. The stationing of weapons of mass destruction on or within the moon is also strictly prohibited. Despite the similarities with the Outer Space Treaty, the Moon Treaty has not achieved the same success as its predecessor. The United States, the Russian Federation, China, and India are not party to the treaty and the 16 states that have ratified the treaty do not possess significant space-faring capabilities. As a consequence it is unlikely to have a significant effect in limiting potential efforts to militarise the Moon.