Air and Space Law Commons^™

Commercial Space Mining: From Competitive Secrecy To Transparency, Sustainability, And Governance Challenges In The New Race For Extraterrestrial Resources, Frányerson R. López Ochoa

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Commercial space mining is becoming integral to the space economy, driven by the need for resources such as water, metals, and platinum-group metals (PGMs) from asteroids and the Moon. It should be noted that these resources have the potential to support long-duration space missions through in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and Earth-based economic activities. Companies such as AstroForge and TransAstra are leading this transition, from government-led exploration to commercial activity. The paper examines the environmental, technological, and legal implications of asteroid mining, using these companies as case studies. While AstroForge has progressed to in-space demonstrations with its Odin spacecraft in 2025 …

Recommendations For An International Regulatory Regime For Commercial Space, Margaret O'Brien

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The rapid advancement of space technologies in both governmental and private sectors presents a significant challenge for existing space law frameworks. Emerging activities such as space mining are gaining international attention, yet lawmakers struggle to craft regulations for an industry that is still in development. Innovators and investors often hesitate to assume risk in the absence of clear international guidelines. This research explores the complex legal and policy considerations surrounding space resource utilization, including the lack of consensus with existing treaties, the unpredictability of potential hazards, and the widening technological gap between industrialized and developing nations. Historical frameworks, such as …

Asteroid Mining: The Next Big Thing Or A Gimmick?, Aashman Gupta

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Asteroid mining, a sci-fi concept that is rapidly emerging as a potential cornerstone for humanity's expansion into space. This paper explores the economic, technological, and legal challenges of asteroid mining, by examining its feasibility, potential benefits, and other challenges that could hinder its development. Some argue that mining asteroids could provide essential resources and reduce dependency on Earth leading to sustainable space colonization, but critical challenges still remain. Through a review and rational comparison of recent advancements and setbacks, this paper presents an analysis of the potential of asteroid mining; findings suggest that while asteroid mining holds significant potential for …

Shaping The Sky Navigating The Future Of Urban Air Mobility Through Innovative Regulation, Ed Koellner

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

This poster presents an in-depth analysis of the evolving regulatory landscape in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), a field poised to revolutionize urban transportation. It emphasizes the need for developing regulatory frameworks that address the unique challenges and opportunities posed by rapidly advancing AAM technologies, focusing on balancing innovation with safety, public interest, and environmental sustainability.

The research provides an overview of current AAM technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and assesses the existing regulatory environment. It highlights the discrepancies and challenges these new technologies introduce to conventional aviation laws and standards.

A significant aspect …

High Times, Higher Stakes: Mental Health Impacts In New Recreational Marijuana Legal Landscape, Jason T. Lorenzon J.D., Chris Pezalla, Diana Semilia

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

This presentation delves into the societal and mental health consequences arising from the increasing trend of legalizing recreational marijuana. Specifically, we will examine the potential normalization of unconventional behavior among aviation college students, who may grapple with substance use challenges due to stress, sleep difficulties, and the demands of college life. Given the rigorous nature of flight training, prioritizing the mental well-being of pilots becomes imperative.

With the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Ohio, this presentation integrates insights from Diana Semilia's 2022 study on Kent State Flight Students Ages 19-26. The study's objective was to extract practical recommendations applicable …

Going Airborne: Kent State's Pioneering Leap Into Integrated Advanced Air Mobility, Jason T. Lorenzon

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

This proposal centers on the development of a Concept of Operations in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Kent State University's College of Aeronautics and Engineering is poised to pioneer the integration of drones and electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) systems, bridging the gap between its campus and airport by transporting students and faculty the 3NM distance from campus to the airport and back by a UAV. Beyond a standard research initiative, this proposal signifies a groundbreaking effort to reshape the landscape of educational aeronautics and Advanced Air Mobility and Urban Air Mobility. Our overarching goal is to transcend conventional boundaries …

Creating An Urban Airspace Design: The Future Regulatory Landscape, Jason T. Lorenzon

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) are transformative technologies that will revolutionize the manner that cargo and passengers are transported in the local environment. This disruptive technology will transform transportation domain. For instance, imagine a transportation infrastructure without physical roads, where persons, property and cargo are being moved by Autonomously operated Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAS). This presentation/paper will examine the current state of the regulatory and legal environment and the efforts that are being made to facilitate a future that a few short years ago was only imagined in works of science fiction.

This presentation will focus …

The Next Small Step, Samiya Henry

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

As of right now, NASA and other space programs are estimating that by 2026, there will be people living in Space. Whether it be the Moon or Mars, one cannot have a functional society without a proper source of laws, especially since no one country has ownership over space. "One Small Step" will produce this source of laws, called the “Space Bill of Rights,” that will outline important matters like the trade of resources, medical care, government officials, and will ensure the preservation of our physical and figurative footsteps in space. This Space Bill of Rights is made up of …

Anti-Satellite Tests: A Risk To The Security And Sustainability Of Outer Space, Mckayla Swan

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

No abstract provided.

The New Space Policy Regime And Its Financial Foundation, Tamara Campbell

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

Post the global financial crisis of 2008, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) sought to expand the space economy through a public policy of commercialization. This has brought major changes to the composition of space mission funding strategies, now repositioned as public private partnerships (P3s). Formed to fund space missions with private finance in lieu of public funding, P3s are investment and risk-sharing vehicles evaluated by financial intermediary institutions, insurers, and at times, the courts in the case where there is foreign direct investment (FDI) agreement. For this reason, it is arguable P3s have exceptional influence on the scope …

Drones: Where Does The National Airspace System Start?, Jason T. Lorenzon J.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Unmanned Aeronautical Vehicles (UAV), drones and Personal Aerial Vehicles (PAV) constitute the greatest technological advancement since the jet age. (Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation, October 26, 2017) This technological advancement has prompted significant public policy challenges and the need for new laws regarding navigable airspace. This proposal investigates how airspace used by drones will evolve given existing Constitutional and common law principals. These principals will influence the creation, development and modification of UAS airspace regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Two critical but unanswered questions concerning the National Airspace System, are where does navigable airspace …

Nasa-Cnsa Collaboration, Ellyn Hu '21, Ming Huang '21, Nathan Tamez '21

Student Leadership Exchange (SLX)

Due to the Public Law 112-55, Sec. 539 passed by the 112th United States Congress in April 2011, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is prohibited from using funds to host Chinese visitors at NASA facilities. This law restricts NASA scientists from engaging with China’s recent developments in aerospace technology, resulting in the loss of a potential ally and a mutually beneficial partnership. This law stems from a multitude of reasons, including concern for the security of research centers and distrust that the Chinese will only steal American information. NASA and CNSA (China National Space Administration) have both expressed …

New Standards For An Old Problem: The Role Of The Federal Communications Commission In Fulfilling Space Policy Directive-3, Michael S. Dodge

Space Traffic Management Conference

The recent Space Policy Directive-3, issued on June 18^th, 2018, commands several sectors of the federal executive apparatus to reassess their current and future efforts to address space traffic management and space situational awareness issues. The reasons for this Directive can be boiled down to the belief that the continued use of the orbital realm depends on responsible management, which in turn depends on myriad factors that include the development of new technologies, the refinement of data gathering, and the clarification of governmental operational roles. In particular, the Directive calls for enhanced standardization of safety and best practices, …

Monetizing Space Debris: Getting Tax Credits On Board, George Anthony Long

Space Traffic Management Conference

Human ingenuity and creativity is said to be one of the most powerful forces on Earth. Money is and historically has been a universal motivation for human ingenuity and creativity. Outer space is not an exception to this historical trend. It is common knowledge that private sector investment in outer space ventures is escalating and this investment is the engine generating the current resurgence in space ventures. The private investments in outer space are principally directed toward resource extraction, space tourism, and other activities which hold the promise of future financial returns on the investments. Noticeably, we do not hear …

Stm In The Nature Of International Space Law, Yu Takeuchi

Space Traffic Management Conference

The discussion regarding STM has been accelerated due to the US policy decision of taking the lead of international discussion in Space Policy Directive 3 (SPD3). It is necessary to solve the following 3 issues to install STM in global sphere; the SSA data sharing; space debris mitigation management; and traffic management regulations.

This paper will be focusing on the 3^rd issue, traffic management regulations, and firstly describe the reason of inherent reluctance of States to control the outer space based on the fundamental principle of international space law. The States sovereignty is always the dominant in the territorial …

Nanosat Tracking And Identification Techniques And Technologies, Mark A. Skinner

Space Traffic Management Conference

Nanosats (and CubeSats, ‘Smallsats’, etc.) are of order 10 cm in size, and are at or near the limits of what can be tracked and characterized, using existing space surveillance assets. Additionally, given the CubeSat form-factor, they are often launched in large numbers (scores), and can be virtually identical. Thus are they difficult to track and to identify.

We have identified a number of technologies that future nanosat missions could employ that would enhance the trackability and/or identification of their satellites when on-orbit. Some of these technologies require active illumination of the satellite with electromagnetic energy, either in the radio …

Essential Air Service: A Lower Rung On The Pilot Shortage Food Chain?, Michael Peck

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

The Essential Air Service (EAS) program, established in 1978 by the federal government as a temporary measure designed to help remote communities cope with the impact of airline deregulation, subsidizes flights to certain destinations that would not otherwise have ready access to commercial air service. The airlines participating in this program fly relatively smaller aircraft and have traditionally hovered at the lower end of the salary scale. Their pilots are, nevertheless, subject to the same flight experience requirements as the major carriers. The national (or perhaps international) pilot shortage has caused some EAS carriers to abruptly terminate service leaving the …

Spaceways: Airspace In Outer Space, Scott Haeffelin

Space Traffic Management Conference

Forecasted future demand in space travel is driving the need for the development of space traffic management. Currently, orbital space traffic is mostly unregulated with internationally agreed upon best practices and self-interest driving space operators to avoid collisions with other spacecraft. This paper explores the future of space travel by presenting a concept of creating “airspace in space” or spaceways to manage the ever growing volumes of space traffic. Spaceways are analogous to airspace for aircraft with the goal of increasing levels of safety and reducing probabilities of collision. These goals can be achieved by creating traffic rules, defining valuable …

Space Traffic Management Concepts Leveraging Existing Frameworks, Stephen K. Hunter

Space Traffic Management Conference

Leveraging existing U.S. regulatory frameworks, as well as international organizations, will dramatically shorten the time needed to develop an effective Space Traffic Management concept. Both the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation have been working with the U.S. Congress to define and develop a Space Traffic Management concept that will allow the Office of Commercial Space Launch to begin a new mission that will help to ensure the safety and resilience of the space domain. Outside observers can easily see forward progress toward this, still, undeveloped concept. This paper explores potential final U.S. Space Traffic Management concepts that …

A Novel Approach For Controlled Deorbiting And Reentry Of Small Spacecraft, Larry H. Fineberg, Justin Treptow, Timothy Bass, Scott Clark, Yusef Johnson, Bradley Poffenberger

Space Traffic Management Conference

No abstract provided.

Early Afternoon Concurrent Panel Sessions: Commercial Space Industry Snapshot: Presentation: 2015 Commercial Space Industry Snapshot As Seen Through The Eyes Of The International Symposium For Personal And Commercial Spaceflight (Ispcs), Sarah J. Nilsson Esq.

Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference

The International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) is a nonprofit independently run annual event, that has taken place these past 11 years, whose speakers capture the growth and diversification of the global commercial space industry in the form of short powerful talks. Hence, it was appropriate that a 2015 snapshot of the commercial space industry should look at this body of experience and knowledge. The key developments, the key players and an accurate state of the industry are hereby presented through the eyes of the ISPCS from this past eleventh symposium that spanned two days and was held …

The Divergent And Evolving Legal Pathways Of Future Space Traffic Management Collaboration, Michael S. Dodge

Space Traffic Management Conference

Collaboration in space traffic management efforts is critical to the successful continued use of the outer space environment, and exploration and utilization of space assets will depend upon structured legal guidance. While STM is notionally evolving at the international level, appropriate attention must also be given to national strategies. This paper will elucidate that extant space traffic management methodologies are developing along two disparate tracks. These pathways, which here are termed the international-collaborative and sectarian methods, are reflective of the needs of the international community and intrastate interests respectively. The paper will attempt to show that in the near-term, these …

Sub-Orbital Spaceflight – An Addition To Our Multi-Modal Transportation System, Scott Haeffelin

Space Traffic Management Conference

The number of commercial spaceflights will be increasing by orders of magnitude over the next several decades. The current volume of space traffic can be managed on a case-by-case basis and there is little impact to the National Airspace System (NAS). This will change as more spaceports become operational, commercial sub-orbital flight companies begin serving their customers and as the cost of these flights begin to decrease. Current regulatory paths seek to allow the flexibility in the regulations for this industry to flourish while also maintaining a high standard of safety. There are, however, many nearsighted and old fashioned assumptions …

Safe Operations Above Fl600, Lt. Col. Stephen Hunter

Space Traffic Management Conference

Safe Operations Above FL600

Abstract

With the increase in likelihood of near-term development of revenue-generating point-to-point suborbital flights and the increase in high-altitude-long-endurance commercial operations above FL600, the criticality of addressing operations above class A airspace has never been more pressing. While the Federal Aviation Administration describes the National Airspace System, it doesn’t offer a description that includes a top. Technological, physiological, physical and administrative limitations have relegated most air operations to FL600 and below. As that changes, previous work on Space Traffic Management (STM) concepts begin to take on new life and add to sincere considerations for adaptation or …

Pirker And Beyond: Questions Of Policy Versus Law On Unmanned Aerial Systems (Uas), Sarah Nilsson

Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference

The regulatory versus policy landscape for unmanned aerial system (UAS) users in the United States (US), as of February 2015, is not an easy one to navigate. The whole country is buzzing with the sound of this new technology, not just in terms of engine noise but more so in terms of the public outcry to the invasion of privacy. The federal government is currently drafting laws that will safely integrate these systems within the National Airspace System (NAS). Concurrently, at least 20 states, unable to wait patiently in the sidelines for such legislation, have implemented their own statutes to …

Assessing The Commercial Aviation Impact Of The Year 2000 Open Skies Agreements Between The United States And African Countries With Longstanding Flights, Tyler B. Spence, Micah Walala, Richard O. Fanjoy

Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference

The U.S. started a comprehensive campaign towards Open Skies agreement in 1992. The major benefits of Open sky agreement are reported to include increase of passenger and cargo volume between partners. This study analyzes passenger traffic and cargo volume between six African countries that have had commercial aviation with the U.S. since 1990 to 2014, and with direct flights between them. Two of the countries have had no Open Skies agreement with the U.S., while four have had Open Skies agreement beginning in 2000. A multi linear modeling process was applied on the two categories to determine whether there is …

Small Satellites And Liability Associated With Space Traffic Situational Awareness, George Anthony Long

Space Traffic Management Conference

At the commencement of the space age, satellites were very small objects that subsequently grew in size and complexity. A re-emergence of small satellites is occurring given that technology now allows them to perform certain operations of large satellites. This paper will explore the risk and liability in space traffic situational awareness associated with the proliferation in the deployment of small satellites.

Small satellites encompass a range of space objects referred to as nanosatellites, microsatellites, picosatellites, cube satellites, femtosatellites and other designations. These satellites are generally placed into orbit as part of a “piggyback” payload on other launches or cargo …

U.S. Private On-Orbit Space Situational Awareness Systems And Services: Legal And Regulatory Challenges, Michael Mineiro

Space Traffic Management Conference

One component of Space Traffic Management (STM) is on-orbit Space Situational Awareness (SSA) systems and services. Advances in technology and a growing demand for SSA services, information, and data, coupled with U.S. Government policy that promotes the purchase and use of commercial SSA capabilities, means that private commercial sector is likely to have an important role to play. To date, there is no federal agency with clear jurisdiction over on-orbit remote sensing operations. This paper examines the current regulatory framework, identifies gaps and limitations, and identifies possible ways forward.

Toward The International Regime For Space Traffic Management -What To Fix The Current International Regulations-, Yu Takeuchi

Space Traffic Management Conference

Space Traffic Management (STM) is an effective concept for providing a solution to the current congested, contested, and competed situation of outer space. However the status of international legal system governing outer space remains at its original formation of the 1960s. Filling this gap is an inescapable task soon or late and it is necessary to establish the international regime for STM to do so. Various issues of the UN Space Treaties and relevant soft laws have been discussed in the context of STM item-by-item, but few are oriented to the establishment of a comprehensive international regime for STM.

This …

How To Reach An International Civil Aviation Organization Role In Space Traffic Management, Lt. Col. Stephen Hunter

Space Traffic Management Conference

The late President Emeritus of the ICAO Council, Assad Kotaite, recommended a new annex to the Chicago Convention to extend ICAO responsibilities for producing International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for suborbital and orbital civil space flights[i]. Additionally, the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense and the European Union have independently conceived standards that have yet to mature to an amicable stage. This impetus to develop SARPs is growing more urgent as space becomes more congested, contested and competitive. In order to best determine how to mature internationally acceptable SARPs for seamless operations from tropospheric to exo-atmospheric …