Laws reached into space very soon after humans did, beginning with a United Nations resolution in 1963. The first major landmark may have been the 1967 Outer Space Treaty which established the use of space for peaceful purposes and forbade sovereign territory claims and nuclear weapons in space.

On 27 June 1969 a subcommittee of the Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space concluded that international law would govern liability for damage to property caused by spacecraft. While most launch sites were near the sea or in remote areas, failed or old satellites and parts of manned spacecraft could fall from orbit anywhere on Earth.

Laws reached into space very soon after humans did, beginning with a United Nations resolution in 1963. The first major landmark may have been the 1967 Outer Space Treaty which established the use of space for peaceful purposes and forbade sovereign territory claims and nuclear weapons in space.

On 27 June 1969 a subcommittee of the Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space concluded that international law would govern liability for damage to property caused by spacecraft. While most launch sites were near the sea or in remote areas, failed or old satellites and parts of manned spacecraft could fall from orbit anywhere on Earth.