§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether certain states are conducting military espionage or other hostile military activities in outer space; and, if so, whether these states are acting in 105WA contravention of Article 1 of the 1967 Treaty Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, which states that, "the exploration and use of outer space … shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic and scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind". [HL4390]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe deployment and usage of satellites is a matter for those nations who own them. As stated in the Written Answer by Lord Gilbert on 13 May 1998 (Col.WA 125), Article 1 of the Outer Space Treaty sets out the right of all states to explore and use outer space in accordance with international law. Nothing in Article 1 confines such use to non-military activities.,