Law Commons^™

Affordable Spacecraft: Design And Launch Alternatives, U.S. Congress, Office Of Technology Assessment

Space Law Documents

Several major DOD and NASA programs are seeking ways to reduce the costs of launching spacecraft. However, it typically costs much, much more to build a spacecraft than to launch it into a low orbit. Therefore, unless the costs of building spacecraft are reduced, even dramatic reductions in costs of launching to low orbit would reduce total spacecraft program costs by only a few percent. This background paper examines several proposals for reducing the costs of spacecraft and other payloads and describes launch systems for implementing them. It is one of a series of products of a broad assessment of …

Law And Practice - European National Space Agencies Under International Space Law, Frans Von Der Dunk

Space, Cyber, and Telecommunications Law Program: Faculty Publications

The legal place and role of national space agencies in general has not yet been the subject of much debate. This paper tries to argue however that this problem is of some relevance indeed. Concurrently with debating it namely, by concentrating on the case of some European agencies the problems of defining a "national space agency" and of the relevance of such definitions as to such a place and role will be answered to some extent.

Thus, Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty is seen as providing for a subdivision of space agencies in 'governmental agencies' and 'nongovernmental entities.' …

Space Stations And The Law: Selected Legal Issues -- Background Paper, U.S. Congress, Office Of Technology Assessment

Space Law Documents

Multinational space station activities will raise fundamental legal issues. The laws we take for granted on Earth--e.g., those that regulate commerce, property, criminal activity, and personal interactions--may not be available in space or may conflict with similar laws held by other nations. This background paper analyzes some of the legal consequences of developing and operating an international space station. It describes the different ways that an international space station might be owned and operated and explains how each could affect the rights and responsibilities of the u.s. Government and its citizens. The background paper gives special attention to the application …

The Interaction Of Public Legal Orders: Impacts Upon Each Other And Upon The Emerging Public Order Of Space, Harry H. Almond

Space Law Documents

The interaction of the public legal orders of states upon each other, and upon the emerging public legal order in outer space, and in general, has long been recognized "by civilized nations." The perspectives of this civilizing process as the perspective of law are critical, because law has always been identified as the assurance of protections it affords to peoples--or to states. This is the correct meaning of "equality before the law." It is also the reason why the concern with human rights goes to the essence of the legitimacy of any legal order. Moreover, the peoples of states, as …

U.S. Law And Space Technology: Land Remote Sensing, Richard Dalbello

Space Law Documents

The opportunity for private sector investment in space technology has increased dramatically in very recent times. The commercialization of this technology places new stresses not only on the technical skills of nations, but also on their legal and political institutions. New technologies such as remote sensing, which are inherently global in their effect, suggest the need for laws and legal institutions which have a similarly global perspective. Yet, the commercialization of space technology remains a high risk, long-term endeavor. If the private sector is to have a meaningful role in the development of this technology, such laws and regulations must …

Direct Tv Broadcasts Through Satellite And The Protection Of State Interests, Christo Karakashev

Space Law Documents

Communications play a key role in the flow of information, data and ideas. They are one of the chief element of infrastructure, leading to social changes and economic development. The role of communications increased tremendously with the advent of direct TV broadcasts through satellites which are a powerful means of diffusing information, knowledge and education, as well as of recreation and fun.
An important characteristic of direct TV broadcasts is that various states can broadcast programmes to be received by anyone in the world. In other words these broadcasts do not reckon with state borders and political systems.

Protecting Intellectual Property In Space, Barbara Luxenberg

Space Law Documents

with the advent of the space shuttle and serious planning for a future space station, opportunities for profitable private sector activities in space are increasing. Many intellectual property protection issues--that is, issues concerning patent, copyright, and trade secret protection for the products of human creativity--will be raised by space commercialization activities. Space technology is often novel and the body of law protecting it, both nationally and internationally, is still developing. For example, developing technology for space communications raises a number of copyright issues, as does commercialization of remote sensing data. In the United States, protecting intellectual property is considered essential …

United States Government Licensing Of Commercial Space Activities By Private Enterprise, E. Jason Steptoe

Space Law Documents

The paper describes the manner in which the United States is meeting its responsibilities under international law and treaty, including the Outer Space Treaty and the International Liability Convention, for national activities in outer space undertaken by means of launch vehicles or payloads launched from U.S. territory or facilities by private commercial enterprises organized or existing under the laws of the United States.

The paper refers to the international legal framework under which the Government of the United states is organizing to discharge its legal responsibility for such activities, and describes the basis in U.S. municipal law for the actions …

The Sky Is Falling: Managing Space Objects, William B. Wirin

Space Law Documents

All countries who launch space vehicles need to focus their attention on steps necessary to prevent damage to mankind by space objects. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty outlines a nation's liability but not the prevention of such damage. Nuclear power sources (NPS), in particular, demand special procedures and precautions. This paper will discuss the reentry into the earth's atmosphere of radioactive materials (such as occurred with COSMOS 954 and COSMOS 1402), the catalogue of space objects maintained by NORAD, and measures which should be taken to avoid damage to or by space objects and debris. The space catalogue presents the …

Outer Space Arms Control: Existing Regime And Future Prospects, Norman A. Wulf

Space Law Documents

The existing arms control regime for outer space bans attacks on satellites of other countries, except as acts of self-defense. The moon and other celestial bodies cannot be used for military activities. Detonating nuclear explosives in outer space is prohibited. Deployment in space of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction is prohibited. Development, testing, or deployment of space-based anti-ballistic systems or their components by the United States or the Soviet Union is prohibited.

Proposals that outer space be demilitarized or that anti-satellite weapons be banned create complex problems. Since all space activities have potential military uses, great care …

The Treaty On Rescue And Return Of Astronauts And Space Objects, Paul G. Dembling, Daniel M. Arons

Space Law Documents

On December 19, 1967, the General Assembly of the United Nations by a vote of 115-0 approved an "Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts, and the Return of Objects Launched in Outer Space"; requested the Depositary Governments "to open the Agreement for signature and ratification at the earliest possible date"; and expressed its hope "for the widest possible adherence to this Agreement." This approval by the General Assembly marked the climax of almost a decade of efforts to secure widespread international agreement on procedures assuring the humanitarian and scientific objectives of the rescue of astronauts in …

The Evolution Of The Outer Space Treaty, Paul G. Dembling, Daniel M. Arons

Space Law Documents

An announcement was made on 8 December 1966, that agreement had been achieved among the members of the twenty-eight nation United Nations Outer Space Commitee on the text of a treaty establishing principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, the moon, and other celestial bodies. Approval of the Treaty was recommended unanimously by the Political Committee of the General Assembly on 17 December 1966. Two days later, the Treaty was endorsed by a unanimous vote of the General Assembly. Regardless of the total number of States which may sign and ratify the Treaty, …