Cologne Commentary on Space Law Volume II

The Cologne Commentary on Space Law (CoCoSL) is a three-volume annotation on the norms of space law as contained in the Treaties of the United Nations and its General Assembly Resolutions.

As a joint publication of the Institute of Air and Space Law of the University of Cologne and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the commentary brings together the scientific and academic proficiency of the Institute and the practical and technical capacity of DLR. It constitutes essential reading for all academics, practitioners and technicians working in the field of space law and beyond.

Volume II comments on four UN Treaties of international space law: the 1968 Rescue Agreement, the 1972 Liability Convention, the 1975 Registration Convention and the 1979 Moon Agreement. Experienced authors from various countries representing different legal traditions elaborated on these four agreements which were concluded after the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Many of the provisions and concepts of the Outer Space Treaty are further developed by the subsequent treaty law that is addressed in this book. The interpretation of the basic legal norms provided by Volume I, which comments on the Outer Space Treaty, thus constitutes a foundation for the commentary in Volume II.

The International Academy of Astronautics in 2010 awarded its Social Sciences Book Award to the Editors of the Cologne Commentary on Space Law for Volume I and thereby acknowledged the outstanding proficiency of the publication.

In building on the successful commentary approach of the first Volume – which is unique in space law literature – the second Volume also provides a provision by provision interpretation and highlights the historical background and context for each of the four Treaties. It includes insights into the subsequent State practice, the present-day applicability and future perspectives of the Treaties.