The increasing involvement of private enterprise in the conduct of space activities raises key issues with respect to international space law which has left it to national law to implement relevant rules vis-à-vis private enterprise. Almost unavoidably, such national implementation regimes differ largely across individual states. This is also true in Europe, where the issue is further compounded by the fundamental – but fundamentally different – roles of ESA and the European Union. Focusing on Europe, the present book thus represents the first comprehensive effort to discuss national authorisation schemes not country by country but theme by theme, so as to allow for a real comparison of the lack of harmonisation or even coordination, and the possible problems which may result.
International Space Law and the United Nations is a comprehensive collection of writings by the author on this latest branch of international law. The book covers a number of subjects highlighted by discussions of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its Legal Subcommittee. The book also takes into account the influences that international organizations have had on the development of space law and includes several perspectives of developing countries on this subject. This publication is an outstanding educational and reference tool, as the author tackles this complex subject in an organized and rational manner. The author, a key participant at the United Nations in the development of international law relating to activities in space, traces the history of that development, giving clear insight into the workings of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and establishes space law as a distinct legal discipline. Subsequent chapters are devoted to the various issues that have given rise to the growth of this discipline, including arms control; economic and social development; specific provisions contained in the outer space treaties and how they relate to practical matters, such as dispute resolution; private sector growth and commercialization in space activities; international cooperative programmes, particularly those developed under the auspices of the United Nations, and recent developments and future issues facing the space-faring community. The book is an excellent source for further research in the field of space law. It is a must for students and practitioners and those interested in international organizations.
This publication explores the concept of common security and the legal foundations for its application in outer space law, based on the premise that outer space is an internationalised common area beyond the national jurisdiction of individual states, and therefore security in space must be the common security of all states. Chapters cover a range of issues including: the principle of the peaceful use of outer space, passive military uses, and multilateral negotiations to prevent an arms race in outer space; structural change of international law and the common heritage of mankind principle; and proposals for a multilateral agreement and the creation of an International Organisation for Common Security in Outer Space.
This book's twenty-six articles fully examine the major developments and issues of the law governing human activities in space, those of states as well as those of private entities. Topics include the legal framework evolved by and through the United Nations; the legal status of astronauts, satellites, and outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies; the military and commercial use of outer space; environmental protection; governmental responsibility for space activities; liability for damage caused by space objects, communications satellites; television broadcasts; remote sensing; commercial launchings; and the application of national laws on board spacecraft, space stations, and on the moon and other celetial bodies.
The New York Times–bestselling conservative author explains why he believes certain social trends will lead to the downfall of the United States. America is disintegrating. The “one Nation under God, indivisible” of the Pledge of Allegiance is passing away. In a few decades, that America will be gone forever. In its place will arise a country unrecognizable to our parents. This is the thrust of Pat Buchanan’s Suicide of a Superpower, his most controversial and thought-provoking book to date. Buchanan traces the disintegration to three historic changes: America’s loss of her cradle faith, Christianity; the moral, social, and cultural collapse that have followed from that loss; and the slow death of the people who created and ruled the nation. And as our nation disintegrates, our government is failing in its fundamental duties, unable to defend our borders, balance our budgets, or win our wars. How Americans are killing the country they profess to love, and the fate that awaits us if we do not turn around, is what Suicide of a Superpower is all about. Praise for Suicide of a Superpower “Suicide of a Superpower traces the changes in governance and culture in America that foreshadow a decline of epic proportions. . . . Buchanan is no stranger to controversy. Nor is he prone to exaggerate. The crises he describes are real, and he is not afraid to say they ‘may prove too much for our democracy to cope with.’” —Jack Kenny, The New American Magazine “Progressives may recoil at these assertions as well as his positions on immigration, affirmative action and morality, though they may share his sentiments regarding war and America’s unnecessary military presence around the world. Not to disappoint his loyal followers, Buchanan reveals the essence of conservative thought and its origins with clarity and precision.” —Publishers Weekly
The increasingly commercial nature of space activities and the intent of States to expand space travel have spawned renewed attempts of changing the foundations of space law, most of which originated in the twentieth century. Understanding the principles of international space law is essential for ensuring a sustainable future for all in outer space. International Space Law in the New Space Era addresses the international legal and regulatory aspects of outer space that govern developments in the field worldwide. It covers the five United Nations' space treaties along with soft law and other policies. With contributions from established experts in the domain of space law, the volume encompasses the entire gamut of international space law while simultaneously addressing inadequacies that have arisen in light of current developments such as space commercialization, space tourism, and space mining. Space law as an academic discipline is gaining prominence in law schools across the globe and this book is the result of a joint endeavour of two prominent Indian law universities (NUJS, Kolkata & MNLU, Mumbai), which have specialized centres in air and space laws. With its balanced mix of theory and practice, this book provides a timely and accessible resource to understanding international law not only for students and academics, but also for policymakers, practitioners, and those working in the space industry.
It is the eve of outer space development, but few people are aware of this. In the absence of awareness, people cannot prepare for the opportunities that will arise; and so the vast wealth likely to flow to Earth from outer space will cause ever-greater inequality and instability in our already unequal and unstable world. This book is a call to educators to factor equality and diversity into the process of outer space development by creating a widespread movement to teach outer space development studies to all students, especially those who study social and behavioral sciences. In calling for this, the author is also putting out a call to visionary thinkers to increase public awareness that outer space is already in the process of being developed. Her objective is to provide a pedagogical approach aimed at mending the knowledge gap. If we fail in this objective, we are more likely than ever before to witness ever-widening gaps of social and financial inequality. The first question that will arise as we embark on this process, of course, will be: Why outer space development? People often ask where the money will come from to develop outer space. Platinum-group metals such as iridium and osmium, and various other valuable untapped natural resources, have been discovered in abundant quantities and are likely to be mined by companies. The discovery of natural resources has sparked development projects in the past. These historical patterns of human behavior are occurring again today, as companies speed up the process of private spaceship development. A myriad of space laws and policies are already in place to support space commercialization. Recently, the 2010 NASA Authorization Act and various other laws and policies initiated by the US government have placed on the agenda plans to build advanced space transportation systems; to privatize spacecraft development; to create commercial space habitats, space stations, and space settlements; to initiate commercial space mining; to investigate spacecraft trajectory optimization for landing on near-Earth asteroids; to engage in commercial spaceport construction and interstellar-interplanetary-international telecommunications; and to launch space exploration missions to near-Earth asteroids, the Moon, Mars, and Mars’s moons. US initiatives have in the past been mirrored by the international community, and we can expect to see similar patterns arising on a global scale – indeed, as this book will demonstrate, they already are. The global community is experiencing economic recession, natural disasters, lack of opportunity, employment anxiety, failing K-12 programs, widening inequality gaps, uprisings, revolutions, revolts, unmet educational goals, and a general failure to uplift, inspire, and provide meaningful opportunities for significant portions of our population. People need something that will allow them to focus anew their talents, energies, abilities, and gifts, and use this bleak climate as an opportunity for positive change. Outer space development is emerging as an answer to this state of crisis. The question is: To whom will the benefits accrue? Many strategic decisions have already been taken regarding space development of which the global general public is unaware. Once legal rights to space resources are granted, only those with the capital to take advantage of new laws and policies will be in a position to profit from the new space industries. Only those who are in a position to “know” about outer space development will be in position to take advantage of the opportunities. It is important to remember that the global general public has for several decades being paying the start-up costs for space exploration research, science, and technology. It’s not too late to factor in equality before an infrastructure of inequality is forever with us as we venture to establish the final frontier.
The United Nations currently has five effective international space treaties, namely the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, Space Rescue Agreement of 1968, Space Liability Convention of 1972, Space Registration Convention of 1975, and Moon Agreement of 1979. However, with recent competition and movements to mine and exploit natural resources from such entities as the moon, asteroids, etc., these outdated treaties no longer address current advancements. It is imperative that new research is undertaken to urge and progress new space laws and policies that strengthen international cooperation and joint undertakings into the exploitation of natural resources from outer space. Global Issues Surrounding Outer Space Law and Policy grants a general understanding for the current issues and methods of solution in the field of outer space law and policy in the global society. It suggests a revision of the five international space treaties and presents a new International Space Agency (ISA) that would use international cooperation and an International Court of Air and Space Law to promote the speed of work and fairness in trials of air and space law cases. Additionally, solutions for the cooperation of the global community towards joint undertakings and exploitation of natural resources in celestial bodies is explored. This book is ideal for lawyers, professors, government officials, space agencies, academicians, researchers, students, and anyone looking to understand the complicated problems and methods of solution in international space law and policy.
