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To Boldly Go: International Space Law And The Expansion Of Res Communis Doctrine, John Ehrett

John Ehrett

International space law, while a relatively recent development in legal history, has far-reaching implications for the traditional conception of national sovereignty. Specifically,the doctrine of res communis - if imprudently incorporated into the broader body of international law - poses a new set of sovereignty challenges on both international and domestic levels. This article explores the history and sources of international space law before proceeding to analysis of the sovereignty questions currently facing world policymakers. The author finds that multilateral agreements conducted on an ad hoc basis are likely to offer a better approach to natural resource management than the broad …