281. Telegram 4915 From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State1 2
Subject:
- Test of Draft Agreement on Space
Ref:
- Moscow 4913
Text follows of draft agreement on space accepted by the two sides for scheduled signature on May 24:
Agreement Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Concerning Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.
The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
Considering the role which the USA and the USSR play in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,
Striving for a further expansion of cooperation between the USA and the USSR in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,
Noting the positive cooperation which the parties have already experienced in this area,
Desiring to make the results of scientific research gained from the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes available for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries and [Page 2] of all peoples of the world,
Taking into consideration the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, as well as the agreement on the rescue of astronauts, the return of astronauts, and the return of objects launched into outer space,
In accordance with the agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of exchanges and cooperation in scientific, technical, educational, cultural, and other fields, signed April 11, 1972 in order to develop further the principles of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries:
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The parties will develop cooperation in the fields of space meteorology: study of the natural environment: the exploration of near earth space, the moon and the planets: and space biology and medicine: and, in particular, will cooperate to take all appropriate measures to encourage and achieve the fulfillment of the “summary of results of discussion on space cooperation between the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R.” of January 21, 1971.
Article 2
The parties will carry out such cooperation by means of mutual exchanges of scientific information and delegations, through meetings of scientists and specialists of both countries, and also in such other ways as may be mutually agreed. Joint working groups may be created for the development and implementation of appropriate programs of cooperation.
Article 3
The parties have agreed to carry out projects for designing compatible rendezvous and docking systems of United States and [Page 3] Soviet manned spacecraft and stations in order to enhance the safety of manned flight in space and to provide the opportunity for conducting joint scientific experiments in the future. It is planned that the first experimental flight to test these systems be conducted during 1975, envisaging the docking of a U.S. Apollo-type spacecraft and a Soviet Soyuz-type spacecraft with visits of astronauts in each other’s spacecrafts. The implementation of these projects will be carried out on the basis of principles and procedures which will be developed in accordance with the summary of results of the meeting between representatives of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences on the question of developing compatible systems for rendezvous and docking of manned spacecraft and space stations of the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., dated April 6, 1972.
Article 4
The parties will encourage international efforts to resolve problems of international law in the exploration and use of outer-space for peaceful purposes with the aim of strengthening the legal order in space and further developing international space law and will cooperate in this field.
Article 5
The parties may by mutual agreement determine other areas of cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
Article 6
This agreement shall enter into force upon signature and shall remain in force for five years. It may be modified or extended by mutual agreement of the parties.
Done at Moscow this twenty-fourth day of May 1972, in two copies, each in English and Russian languages, with both texts equally authentic.
For the United States of America
For the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SP 1-1 US-USSR. Confidential; Immediate, Exdis. The May 17 memorandum from Kissinger to Nixon, recommending that the President sign such a statement during the Moscow summit is printed in Logsdon (ed.), Exploring the Universe, Vol. II, External Relations, Document I-47. The agreement is printed in Department of State Bulletin, June 26, 1972, pp. 924-925.↩
- The Embassy transmitted the agreed draft text of a US-USSR agreement on space, scheduled for signature on May 24.↩