NASA’s Practice of Concluding “Framework Agreements” for International Cooperation in Outer Space
- Paper number
IAC-08.E8.5.3
- Author
Mr. Steven Mirmina, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Headquarters, United States
- Coauthor
General Michael Wholley, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Headquarters, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Steven Mirmina, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Headquarters, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Over the past few years, NASA has concluded “umbrella” agreements to establish the legal parameters for NASA to conduct cooperative space missions with other countries’ space agencies. The proposed paper explains a brief history of why these agreements are necessary from a legal perspective and outlines the general content of these framework agreements. NASA’s framework agreements are sometimes referred to as “umbrella agreements,” because they establish the legal umbrella under which the future activity takes place. In general, NASA’s agreements to cooperate in outer space generally contain some core legal clauses: liability; intellectual property rights; and transfer of goods and technical data, among others. Conclusion of framework agreements in many ways makes both the lawyers’ jobs, as well as the jobs of NASA scientists, easier. By resolving in advance all of the legal issues that routinely arise when negotiating an international agreement to conduct an activity in outer space, precious time and resources are saved, thereby allowing the space agencies to focus on performing their underlying scientific mission.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E8.5.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.