Orbital Space Ports : Their operating procedures and legal frame.
- Paper number
IAC-07-E6.2.06
- Author
Dr. Alvaro Azcarraga, SENER Ingeneria y Sistemas, S.A., Spain
- Coauthor
Mrs. Elisa González Ferreiro, Spain
- Year
2007
- Abstract
How to leave Earth gravity well is today the major obstacle to develop large scale activities in space. There is not any close solution, even a medium term one, to sustitute rocket propulsion. Neither the Seales effect, gravitations, magnetic fields and other exotic propulsion devices have yet demonstrate to have a practical engineering solution, some of them even have not proven their own existence!. Therefore, to be able to explore space in a continuous way, and with substantial capabilities, it is mandatory to operate from outer space as much as possible, and thus by making orbital space ports, either artificial ones or else by taking advantage of celestial bodies. The question of the use of natural celestial bodies is not to use them to exploit their potential natural resources, but as a supporting base for an artificial structure above them. This paper will not deal how to build large orbital space ports, as the rendez-vous and docking technologies are well proven, but with the consecuences of doing it, and of course later on of using them, and not only for outgoing traffic, but also for incoming traffic and all kind of transactions and services realized on such space ports, opening space for large private operations. Further more, those space ports will be inhabited, and its easily concievable that in a not so long future they will have permanent residents, the paper will examine the definition and meaning of the orbital space ports and the legal regime applicable to persons and materials on board. Also the use of the standard voice “for peaceful purposes” will be questioned, to distinguish bone fidae spaceports to other covert operations. One has to remind the solution found by the former Soviet Union to by-pass the Treaty of the Dardanelles Straits that forbids the crossing by their waters of aircraft carriers. The soviets renamed their aircraft carriers antisubmarine cruisers, and in the tense days of the Cold War nobody protested. The paper present a road-map to examine the largest number of potential implications, and what is required to reduce the legal void to a minimum.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E6.2.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.