Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects launched into Outer Space (London Version) Document type Multilateral Field of application Global Date Apr 22, 1968 Source IUCN (ID: TRE-000415) Title (French) Accord sur le sauvetage des astronautes, le retour des astronautes et la restitution des objets lancés dans l'espace extra-atmosphérique (London Version) Title (Other) Übereinkommen über die Rettung und Rückführung von Raumfahrern sowie die Rückgabe von in den Weltraum gestarteten Gegenständen (London Version) Place of adoption London; Moscow; Washington D.C. Depository Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States of America Language Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish Entry into force Dec 3, 1968 Subject Air & atmosphere Keyword Hazardous waste Outer space Abstract Objective: To promote international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. Summary provisions: The Agreement develops the duties of assistance to astronauts in the event of accident, distress or emergency landing and of prompt and safe return of astronauts and objects launched into outer space. Article 5.4 specifies that if a Contracting Party has reason to believe that a recovered space object or its component parts are hazardous, it may notify the launching authority which must immediately take effective steps to eliminate possible danger or harm. The term 'launching authority' is defined in Article 6. (Source: IUCN ELC, 08.2005) Full text English French Spanish Website treaties.fco.gov.uk www.unoosa.org Country/Territory/Participant See Expanded View Show Map Countries Entry into force Ratification * Simple signature Antigua and Barbuda Apr 18, 1969 Apr 18, 1969 [2] - Argentina Mar 26, 1969 Mar 26, 1969 [1] May 2, 1968 Australia Mar 18, 1986 Mar 18, 1986 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Austria Feb 19, 1970 Feb 19, 1970 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Bahamas Jul 10, 1973 Aug 11, 1976 [4] - Barbados Feb 20, 1969 Feb 20, 1969 [2] - Belgium Apr 15, 1977 Apr 15, 1977 [1] Aug 14, 1968 Botswana Feb 26, 2001 Feb 26, 2001 [2] - Brazil Feb 27, 1973 Feb 27, 1973 [2] - Bulgaria Apr 14, 1969 Apr 14, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Cameroon Jan 10, 1969 Jan 10, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Canada Feb 20, 1975 Feb 20, 1975 [1] Apr 25, 1968 Chile - - Apr 22, 1968 China Dec 20, 1988 Dec 20, 1988 [2] - Congo, Dem. Rep. of - - Jun 25, 1968 Cyprus Dec 17, 1970 Dec 17, 1970 [1] May 7, 1968 Czech Republic Jan 1, 1993 Sep 29, 1993 [4] - Czechoslovakia - - Aug 21, 1968 Denmark May 6, 1969 May 6, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Egypt - - May 10, 1968 Eswatini, Kingdom of Mar 1, 1971 Mar 1, 1971 [1] Apr 22, 1969 Fiji Oct 10, 1970 Aug 14, 1972 [4] - Finland - - Apr 22, 1968 France Dec 31, 1975 Dec 31, 1975 [2] - Gambia Dec 3, 1968 Aug 2, 1968 [2] - Germany Feb 17, 1972 Feb 17, 1972 [1] Aug 20, 1968 Ghana - - May 6, 1968 Greece Jul 7, 1975 Jul 7, 1975 [1] Jun 11, 1968 Guyana May 30, 1969 May 30, 1969 [1] Oct 4, 1968 Hungary Jun 4, 1969 Jun 4, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Iceland Dec 4, 1969 Dec 4, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 India Jul 9, 1979 Jul 9, 1979 [2] - Indonesia Aug 28, 1973 Aug 28, 1973 [2] - Iran, Islamic Republic of Dec 21, 1970 Dec 21, 1970 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Iraq May 7, 1970 May 7, 1970 [2] - Ireland Dec 3, 1968 Aug 29, 1968 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Israel Jan 6, 1970 Jan 6, 1970 [1] Apr 26, 1968 Italy Mar 31, 1978 Mar 31, 1978 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Jamaica - - Jul 23, 1968 Japan Jun 20, 1983 Jun 20, 1983 [2] - Jordan - - Jul 24, 1968 Kuwait Jun 20, 1972 Jun 20, 1972 [2] - Lao, People's Dem. Rep. Jan 15, 1973 Jan 15, 1973 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Lebanon Mar 31, 1969 Mar 31, 1969 [1] Apr 30, 1968 Libya Nov 1, 1981 Jan 26, 1989 [4] - Luxembourg - - Aug 14, 1968 Malaysia - - Jun 29, 1968 Malta - - May 29, 1968 Mauritius Apr 21, 1969 Apr 21, 1969 [2] - Mexico Mar 11, 1969 Mar 11, 1969 [1] Jul 15, 1968 Monaco - - Jun 13, 1968 Montenegro Feb 18, 1969 Feb 18, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Morocco Nov 20, 1970 Nov 20, 1970 [1] Jun 14, 1968 Myanmar Apr 20, 2010 Apr 20, 2010 [2] - Nepal Feb 3, 1969 Feb 3, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Netherlands Feb 17, 1981 Feb 17, 1981 [1] Aug 14, 1968 New Zealand Jul 8, 1969 Jul 8, 1969 [1] Apr 24, 1968 Nicaragua - - Jun 13, 1968 Nigeria Mar 23, 1973 Mar 23, 1973 [1] Jul 26, 1968 Norway Apr 20, 1970 Apr 20, 1970 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Pakistan Nov 2, 1973 Nov 2, 1973 [2] - Papua New Guinea Oct 27, 1980 Oct 27, 1980 [2] - Peru May 3, 1979 May 3, 1979 [2] - Poland Feb 14, 1969 Feb 14, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Romania Jun 28, 1970 Jun 28, 1971 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Dec 3, 1968 Dec 3, 1968 [1] Apr 22, 1968 San Marino Aug 10, 1970 Aug 10, 1970 [1] Nov 7, 1968 Senegal - - Jun 26, 1968 Seychelles Jan 5, 1978 Jan 5, 1978 [2] - Sierra Leone - - May 20, 1968 Singapore Sep 10, 1976 Sep 10, 1976 [2] - Slovenia May 27, 1992 May 27, 1992 [4] - South Africa Sep 24, 1969 Sep 24, 1969 [1] Aug 6, 1968 Spain Jun 27, 1999 Jun 27, 1999 [1] - Sweden Jun 10, 1969 Jun 10, 1969 [2] - Switzerland Jul 21, 1969 Jul 21, 1969 [2] - Thailand Dec 18, 1969 Dec 18, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Tonga May 29, 1969 May 29, 1969 [2] - Tunisia Jun 4, 1970 Jul 7, 1971 [4] - Turkey Feb 10, 1971 Feb 15, 1971 [1] Apr 22, 1968 United Kingdom Dec 19, 2006 Dec 19, 2006 [1] Nov 29, 1968 United States of America Dec 3, 1968 Dec 3, 1968 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Uruguay Dec 3, 1968 Dec 3, 1968 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Viet Nam Feb 25, 1969 Feb 25, 1969 [1] Apr 22, 1968 Yugoslavia Oct 27, 1979 May 13, 1999 [4] - Zambia - - May 22, 1968 former USSR/Soviet Union Jun 3, 2006 Dec 12, 2006 [4] - * [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature reset zoom out zoom in