Astronauts and Space Tourism: Redefining ‘Envoys of Mankind’

Paper number

IAC-08.E8.2.3

Author

Mr. Sethu Nandakumar Menon, University of Paris XI, France

Year

2008

Abstract

As per Article V of Outer Space Treaty, 1967, Astronauts are considered as ‘envoys of mankind’ and this concept has been explicitly defined in the Rescue Agreement, 1968. All the space related treaties and agreements between states have been formulated at a time when human space flights were rare and was considered a huge leap for human-kind on technology front. During that time, states are the only parties involved in human space flight and the sole purpose of those flights have been for scientific advancement. In the last decade there has been a paramount shift in the human-space flight programmes, as more and more private entities enter the foray. The very purpose of the private space flights has now changed, as profit and commercial interests have over-taken scientific advancement. This issue is more important in view of ‘Aerospace/Sub-orbital’ flights, which is gearing up for a fully-operational human space flight programme in the near future.

This paper will first examine the definition of ‘Astronauts’ as defined in the treaties and international documents, the ambit of the definition and reasons why they have been termed as ‘envoy of mankind’. Further on, the paper will be scrutinizing the shift in the human space flight industry and the correlated swing in the meaning and activities of Astronauts in the new sphere of human space flight industry.

We are at an important juncture, where the whole structure of the human space flight is changing, thereby creating a situation to re-define the legal terminology and definition of the participants in it. We cannot dispose of the traditional Astronaut concept entirely, as there are numerous scientific space activities going on at the moment. The present need is to differentiate and define the concept of Astronaut in view of the changing space activities. This paper will be exploring the possibilities of how to define commercial astronauts and how are they different from traditional astronauts. Further on, the paper will also be arguing the urgency to make the differentiation as there are already at least five space tourists and most probably scores more with the starting of Aerospace/sub-orbital fights.     

Abstract document

IAC-08.E8.2.3.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)