International Law and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Abstract The search for extraterrestrial life, especially intelligent life, is among the most profound scientific endeavors. Although the international community achieved consensus within a few years of the launch of Sputnik on legal principles fundamental to the peaceful exploration of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, those principles did not directly address the subject of SETI. Nevertheless, principles relevant to SETI are expressed in the law of outer space, including treaties in force as well as non-binding forms of international instruments. As the search for extraterrestrial intelligent beings has developed and a myriad of issues has arisen, the relevance of many of these legal principles has become apparent.