Dictionary of Space Concepts

Short Definition
The Moon Treaty is an agreement that the Moon, its orbit and other celestial bodies may not be used for military purposes. This treaty recognizes the Moon as a place of exclusively peaceful action.

Detailed Definition
The first discussions by the Legal Subcommittee on the Moon Agreement began between 1972 and 1979. However, the treaty itself did not enter into force until 1984.

No military bases can be established on the Moon under this treaty. Also, on its territory and orbit may not be any weapons of mass destruction. For the sake of this agreement, the Moon can only be used for friendly and non-destructive purposes. However, it does not prohibit military personnel from being on the Moon to support the lunar missions.

An important point of this agreement is that all parties are committed to informing the United Nations and the public about their activities research and planned bases on the moon. The last big point of this treaty is the recognition of the Moon as common heritage of mankind. This means that no country has the right to claim the natural resources of the Moon and use them as their profit.

Etymology
Moon (Noun.), originated from English Medieval word Mōna, that comes from Latin metri (to measure) and mensis (the month).

Sample Sentence(s)

Moon Treaty is an important Agreement, and its topics are still important discussion today.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages

French: Traité sur la Lune

German: Mondvertrag

Italian: Trattato sulla Luna

Polish: Traktat Księżycowy, Układ Księżycowy

Swedish: Månfördraget

Links to Videos/Articles:

• United Nation Office for Outerspace (2014), Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, Retrieved from https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/intromoon-agreement.html

• NTI (n.d.), Moon Agreement, Retrieved from https://www.nti.org/education-center/treaties-and-regimes/agreement-governing-activities-states-moon-and-other-celestial-bodies-moon-agreement/

• Yale University (n.d.), The Moon Agreement, Retrieved from https://energyhistory.yale.edu/library-item/moon-agreement

• Online Etymology Dictionary (n.d.), moon (n.), Retrieved from https://www.etymonline.com/word/moon#etymonline_v_18330

• Peak, T. (2014), Moonset, ESA, Retrieved from https://www.esa.int/Space_in_Member_States/Poland/Pierwsze_kroki_przed_powrotem_na_Ksiezyc