The convention on registration of objects launched into outer space and its implementation in Colombia's national legal system

This paper describes the process, interpretation and extent of Colombia's ratification of the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (Registration Convention). It also analyses the principal consequences of its implementation on the Colombian legal system. Colombia deposited its instrument of accession on the 10th of January of 2014, and thus being the first treaty of the Corpus Iuris Spatialis to be ratified by the country. The ratification contains several challenges. First of all, States are confronted with the interpretation of the concepts of 'launching State' and 'State of registry', due to the fact that a State is not only supposed to launch objects into space, but is also supposed to promote them. Secondly, another challenge is to interpret the aforementioned concepts under Colombian legislation. Likewise, it is pertinent to analyze the scope of the obligations undertaken by Colombia regarding the creation of a register of objects launched into outer space. Hence, this paper will also examine which legal vehicle would be ideal to create the register (law, decree or administrative act) and which would be the responsible entity to manage it (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications, Presidency of the Republic, or another entity). Finally, this paper will analyze the process of ratification of the treaty, since it was the result of a three public power's intervention: the legislative power with the 1569 law of 2012, the judiciary power with the C-220 sentence of 2013, and lastly the executive power with the decree 1065 of 2014. The aforementioned instruments reflect the Registration Convention's scope within the legal context of a developing country. Undoubtedly, the Registration Convention could be a mechanism to stimulate national space activities, even for developing countries, It is for this reason that it is important to analyze its implementation in national law of a state like Colombia.