How does the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 limit national claims beyond Earth’s atmosphere?

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 serves as a foundational instrument of space law that explicitly prohibits national appropriation of outer space and celestial bodies.12

Under the treaty, nations are barred from claiming sovereignty over the Moon or other celestial bodies, effectively preventing countries from extending their terrestrial dominion into space. The treaty establishes that outer space is free for exploration and use by all states for the benefit of all countries, rather than being subject to national ownership.34215

While the treaty limits national claims, it does not define the specific altitude where a state's sovereign air space ends and outer space begins, leaving the precise boundary between the two domains a subject of ongoing international discussion. Furthermore, the treaty mandates that all activities in space must be conducted in accordance with international law, ensuring that space remains a global commons rather than a territory for national expansion.123