Technical programme

E7.1. Young Scholars Session with Keynote Lecture

This session is open for abstracts and papers from space lawyers under 35 years old. It welcomes contributions on any topics related to space law. It also features a regular, annual keynote presentation by a High level expert and diplomat in the field of international space law

E7.2. Near Space: Legal Aspects of Aerospace Activities

In the last few years, technology is focusing not only on the use of outer space, but also of near space. The use of sub-orbital flights for testing purposes, the use of high-altitude platforms for communication, are only two examples of many. The panel invites authors to deliberate the challenges arising from the applicability of both air and space law. It discusses the future models for such activities, including the proposal on sub-orbital flights elaborated by the International Law Association, (ILA).

E7.3. Artificial Intelligence and Safe Space Communication

At first sight, the use of AI raises legal questions connected with the attributability and liability for space activities; the establishment of fault in the event of damage in outer space then becomes even more complex in the process. However, this is not the full picture: The panel discusses not only the challenges AI brings to the present legal framework for outer space activities, but deliberates the legal steps designed to assist space assets reduce their vulnerability.

E7.4. Launching into Outer Space

The original way of launching objects into outer space – one rocket, one object- has been revolutionized already long time ago. Today’s technology can use reusable launchers, multiply the load of space objects, and develop methods such as launching from sea platforms, ships, airplanes, or space objects themselves. Also new countries are joining the family of launching States. This situation opens questions connected with the applicability of the Liability Convention, with contracts, insurance, liability, and fault. The panel deliberates the legal setup of the present and planned spaceports, and the challenges they are facing.

E7.5. Alternative Space Rules Setting

The UN space treaties were elaborated in the 60ties and 70ties; since the Moon Agreement, no universal space law agreement was agreed upon in the UN COPUOS. However, many other rules are existing which have direct influence on space activities: In some cases, international and regional standards and other recommendatory norms are replacing binding international framework. The panel will discuss whether the consensus principle can be replaced by alternative space norms setting or and under which conditions these two bodies of rules can complement each other.

E7.6-E3.5. 38th IAA/IISL Scientific Legal Roundtable: "Cyberspace Security in Outer Space: Scientific, Technical and Legal Dimensions of a Dilemma"

(Invited papers only, please do not submit abstracts as these will be rejected) Outer space and cyberspace are realms opened to human exploration and exploitation through scientific discovery, technological innovation and increasingly, commercial application. Spacecraft operating in near-earth orbital regions or in inter-planetary expanses rely on forms of electronic communication, often referred to as “cyberspace” to carry out their missions. Best practices and usage norms to ensure safe passage through outer space have evolved as direct counterparts to the rules and norms governing use of the radio spectrum and telecommunications technologies to avoid harmful, mission-endangering radio frequency interference. The technological shift to Internet-based telecommunications infrastructures is exposing space-based systems to terrestrial cyber-disruptions that are challenging long-standing technological practices and governance regimes in outer space. On-going earthbound military hostilities employing cyber-disruptions rooted in Internet network architectural vulnerabilities are already disabling or interfering with space-based communications. This IAA-IISL Roundtable will discuss whether scientific/technological trends as well as governance institutions and rules are sufficient to ensure space activities and systems may operate in a setting of cyber-security and not cyber-disruption.

E7.7. Regional Space Legislation

The last years are facing a growing intensity of regional space law setting: The US initiated the recommendatory Artemis Accords, the Chinese-Russian MoU presupposes a creation of an International Lunar Research Station, and the European Union who adopted a space Directive only recently is working on the enlargement of its space legislation. The panel analyses the regional space law and its implementation and discusses its interplay with the UN legal framework.

E7.IP. Interactive Presentations - IISL COLLOQUIUM ON THE LAW OF OUTER SPACE

The IP session is not restricted to any specific topic related to space law and invites authors to contribute presentations on any interesting, relevant and current space law issues.

E7.LBA. Late Breaking abstracts (LBA)