RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Through its publications, INSS provides rigorous, forward‑looking research and analysis on critical national security issues that support the joint warfighter and inform Department of War decision‑makers.

 

Research and Commentary

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Tag: outer space treaty

Illustration depicting the potential withdrawal from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. A fractured stone monument engraved with the treaty's title rests on a lunar surface, while a broken fragment labeled "Withdrawal Article XVI" lies nearby. Earth is visible in the background.

June 2, 2026

“I Will Make It Legal:” From Palpatine to Article XVI, an Assessment of the Outer Space Treaty’s Withdrawal Mechanism

In "“I Will Make It Legal:” From Palpatine to Article XVI, an Assessment of the Outer Space Treaty’s Withdrawal Mechanism," Todd Pennington uses a memorable line from Star Wars to explore a serious and largely overlooked question in international space law: what happens if a State withdraws from the Outer Space Treaty?