The Emergence of National Space Law Legislation

Paper number

IAC-12,E7,5,5,x14292

Author

Dr. Paul Dempsey, McGill University, Canada

Year

2012

Abstract

A growing number of States are becoming space-faring nations. Many are enacting national space legislation.
The introduction of this paper will identify requirements of state obligations as contained in the space law multilateral conventions.  Some of these require registration, while others hold the state responsible and liable for space activities of their personal and corporate citizens.  These will be related to the state statutes, where appropriate.

With respect to its analysis of national laws, the paper will provide a comparative law analysis of similarities and differences in recently promulgated statutes.  In particular, it will examine how space agencies are established, their relationship to other governmental units, how members are appointed, qualifications of administrators, responsibilities, administrative structure, licensing and enforcement power.  The focus will be on similarities and differences, and in particular, best practices.

As to the relative size and budget of these agencies, obviously the US, China, Russia and the ESA are in one category of what is in the realm of the possible, and likely will have more complex structures than the regulatory institutions of the smaller space-faring nations.  These differences will be critically examined.

Abstract document

IAC-12,E7,5,5,x14292.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-12,E7,5,5,x14292.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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