Armed conflict in outer space could happen in two scenarios: first, a state may rely on relevant data obtained from the satellites to strengthen the effectiveness of its military action and second, a state may use either space-based or ground-based space weapons to attack a military target. Legally speaking, the above two scenarios constitute the use of force as defined in international law rules. From jurisprudential point of view, the extension of the right to self-defense to armed conflict in outer space provides a potential legitimate basis for the use of force in outer space, which is indirectly confirmed in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. In view of the potentially serious consequences arising from armed conflicts in outer space, general principles and rules in international humanitarian law (including the limitation principle, the distinction principle, and the proportionality principle), together with the soft law rules and draft conventions arising from the ongoing regulatory efforts, shall provide a basic regulatory framework for armed conflict in outer space.

在两种情况下可能会发生外层空间武装冲突：第一，一个国家可能依靠从卫星获得的相关数据来增强其军事行动的有效性；第二，一个国家可能会使用天基或地面太空武器攻击军事目标。从法律上讲，以上两种情况构成了国际法规则所定义的武力使用。从法理学的角度来看，将自卫权扩大到外层空间武装冲突为在外层空间使用武力提供了潜在的合法基础，这在1967年《外层空间条约》中得到了间接确认。鉴于外层空间武装冲突可能造成的严重后果，国际人道主义法的一般原则和规则（包括时效原则），