Catalog

Technical programme

IAC-10 — 61st International Astronautical Congress

E7. 53rd COLLOQUIUM ON THE LAW OF OUTER SPACE

This Symposium organized by the INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SPACE LAW (IISL) addresses various aspects of the law of outer space and is structured in 5 sessions.

Coordinator: Corinne M. Jorgenson
Advancing Space — United States

E7.1. Nandasiri Jasentuliyana Keynote Lecture on Space Law & Young Scholars Session

In the first part of this session, the IISL will invite a prominent speaker to address the members of the Institute and other congress attendants on a highly topical issue of broad interest. The second part of this session will be especially dedicated to the space lawyers of the future, in that young scholars (under 35 years old) are invited to present a paper on “Space Law – Future Challenges and Potential Solutions” but the IISL is also open to other topics. Note : All young scholars are requested to submit their paper to THIS session ONLY.

Chairman

Vladimir Kopal
West Bohemen University — Czech Republic

Tanja Masson-Zwaan
International Institute of Air and Space Law, Leiden University — The Netherlands

Rapporteur: Mark Sundahl
Cleveland State University — United States

E7.2. 30 Years of the Moon Agreement: Perspectives

For this session, papers are invited to analytically address the future perspectives of the Moon Agreement, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009. Papers may thus critically analyse (a) recent developments in COPUOS, such as the 2008 ‘joint statement’ by several states parties on the benefits of adhering to the Agreement, (b) the future design, adoption and implementation of an international regime to govern the exploitation of the natural resources of the celestial bodies ‘as such exploitation is about to become feasible’, (c) the reasons for the timid support for the Agreement from the international community, and (d) issues concerning the protection of the Moon environment and of other celestial bodies. The question of how exploitation of moon resources relates to the non-appropriation principle as well as the Common Heritage of Mankind principle may also be critically scrutinized.

Chairman

Mahulena Hofmann
University of Luxembourg — Luxembourg

Maureen Williams
Chair, ILA Space Law Committee, UK & UBA, Conicet, Buenos Aires — Argentina

Rapporteur: Michael Mineiro
Akin — United States

E7.3. Legal Aspects of Space Security

Recent anti-satellite tests and the EU Proposal for a Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities of December 2008 as well as other initiatives like the Russian-Chinese proposal for a treaty demilitarizing outer space (‘Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use Of Force Against Outer Space Objects’), together with the collision of a Russian defunct satellite with an operational US Satellite in early 2009, sparked broad international debate amongst experts and decision-makers alike. Papers in this session are invited to analyze the legal aspects related to the need for keeping space safe for civilian as well as military operations avoiding the weaponization of space at the same time. Papers are also encouraged to address the most recent proposals in this context and to present ideas for the further development of space law addressed to the relevant international forums.

Chairman

Kai-Uwe Schrogl
International Institute of Space Law (IISL) — France

Ricky J. Lee
PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal — Australia

Rapporteur: Ranjana Kaul
Dua Associates — India

E7.4. The Current Status of the Rule of Law with Regard to Space Activities

Since the adoption of the Moon Agreement in 1979, no other international treaties have been adopted in the United Nations. Rather, first a number of United Nations General Assembly Resolutions on Direct Broadcasting Satellites, Remote Sensing, Nuclear Power Sources were adopted concerning certain areas of uses in outer space. Thereafter, other United Nations General Assembly Resolutions served the purpose of making more concrete certain aspects of international space legislation, such as Article I paragraph 1 of the Outer Space Treaty with the Space Benefits Declaration, or the notion of Launching State in the Liability Convention and the Registration Convention, etc. Against this background, in light of the most recent development of the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, papers are invited to discuss the current status of the rule of law with regard to outer space activities. (Generally, the "rule of law" means that the law must be prospective, well-known, and have characteristics of generality, equality, and certainty).

Chairman

Stephan Hobe
University of Cologne — Germany

Peter Jankowitsch
Austrian Aeronautics & Space Agency — Austria

Rapporteur: Irmgard Marboe
University of Vienna — Austria

E7.5. Recent Developments in Space Law

In this session, papers are invited to address legal aspects of the most recent developments in space activities that have taken place since the other session topics have been determined, i.e. since March 2009 only. In addition, papers are invited to address two special issues. Firstly, this concerns the legal aspects of Solar Power Satellites. In this field several high-level technical studies are currently conducted to assess whether such satellites can operate within the existing international regulatory regime and whether such regime is conducive to this newest space application. Secondly, papers are invited to address the ongoing developments and progress in the context of international Intergovernmental agreements on space cooperation and space activities, such as the Agreement on the International Space Station or agreements pertaining to international satellite organizations like ITSO, IMSO, EUTELSAT IGO or ARABSAT.

Chairman

Frans G. Von der Dunk
University of Nebraska, College of Law — The Netherlands

K.R. Sridhara Murthi
NIAS — India

Rapporteur: SYLVIA OSPINA
— United States

E7.6.-E3.5. 25th IAA/IISL Scientific-Legal Roundtable: The new age of small satellite missions (Invited Papers only)

The trend towards building small satellites that are smaller, faster, better and cheaper was a reaction to falling industry budgets in the late Nineties. The scientific community awoke to the capabilities and advantages that small satellites hold for existing and new space applications. Twenty years on, the number of small satellites in operation calls for increased regulatory attention. The pattern of constructing and launching small satellites within a short time-scale continues unabated. This session looks at the subject from a technical perspective, alongside the relevant economic, policy and regulatory aspects. The papers will provide a coherent picture of the status quo and enable future prospects for this group of satellites to be mapped out. The Round Table hosts invited papers only, and is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary debate around the subject.

Chairman

Rainer Sandau
International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) — Germany

Lesley Jane Smith
Leuphana University of Lüneburg/Weber-Steinhaus & Smith — Germany

Rapporteur: Nicola Rohner-Willsch
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) — Germany

E7.7.-B3.8. Joint IAF-IISL session on Legal Framework for Collaborative Human Space Missions

This session invites discussions around topics related to the legal aspects of international collaboration in future human space missions and programmes such as the ISS lifetime extension, post ISS activities in LEO, or the Lunar Exploration. The scope encompasses both inter-agency as well as industrial collaboration.

Chairman

Cristian Bank
EUMETSAT — Germany

Lesley Jane Smith
Leuphana University of Lüneburg/Weber-Steinhaus & Smith — Germany

Rapporteur: Mark Hempsell
The British Interplanetary Society — United Kingdom