First Considerations for a Practical Handbook to New Space Activities Regulators
- Paper number
IAC-17,E7,2,9,x36559
- Author
Mr. Jean-François Mayence, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO), Belgium
- Year
2017
- Abstract
The paper presents a practical approach for the implementation of space legislation and/or regulation by States, focusing on those which have not yet developed a solid experience in that respect. The paper envisages the drafting of a handbook that would highlight the legal, administrative and technical instruments which are needed for implementing the usual provisions of national space law (known as 'building blocks') and how they should fit in the national framework or in bilateral or international cooperation agreements. For instance, the handbook could review issues such as (1) which national authority or administration should be in charge of implementing the law or the regulation, (2) the time frame in which the procedure for authorization of space activities should take place, (3) how international and national liability aspects should be managed, (4) what are the possible connections with general or thematic administrative law (e.g. environmental law), (5) what expertise or technical support should be considered in the processing of applications, (6) what kind of information or data should be requested from the operator in order to comply with international obligations or policies, etc. Although the paper doesn't aim at providing a scientific contribution on how national law should transpose international obligations or mechanisms, the proposed initiative for a handbook is the logical continuation of efforts undertaken by UNCOPUOS on the topic of National Space Laws, in particular with UNGA Resolution 68/74 of December 11, 2013. The handbook could be designed as a living document, collecting expertise and experience from national administrations developing or implementing space law or regulation. The paper addresses ideas for initiating and keeping active the process of feeding up the handbook.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)