Commercial Spaceport Development: The Role of Domestic and International Space Law and Regulations
- Paper number
IAC-06-E6.1.09
- Author
Mr. Kenneth M. Weidaw III, Weidaw Peck & Associates, L.L.P., United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Competition for commercial space launch business has continued to increase over the last decade. In expanding its services, the commercial launch industry is now preparing to accommodate tourists as they explore low earth orbit. Given the launch business growth, traditional government controlled spaceports are increasingly unable to offer timely and cost-effective launch services prompting private and municipal alliances to develop private spaceports. Domestic and international space law and regulations play a significant role in controlling growth through each nation’s licensing powers. We are now witnessing the early stages of commercial spaceport development in the United States and in other nations. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the recent development of commercial spaceports, the reasons for their creation and the manner in which they are being formed. Space law pertinent to their development and growth, including national licensing regimes, will be outlined. As local and international spaceports continue to evolve, creative solutions will have to be developed to regulate launch traffic between spaceports, to low earth orbit stations, communications satellites, solar energy platforms and the nearby planets. International space laws can and should play an important role. However, it is argued the extant international and domestic space and aerospace laws and regulations are inadequate. A general convention must be convened to address the predictable legal liability, space traffic, launch trajectory and recovery issues that will develop as nations created spaceports and launches proliferate.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E6.1.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.