International Space Law

The International Space Law: United Nations Instruments as it represents the most comprehensive and up-to-date volume of instruments that have been developed, promoted and strengthened under the auspices of the United Nations. These instruments constitute the principal body of international space law and will continue to provide, further into the twenty-first century, an effective framework for the expanding and increasingly complex tasks aimed at the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. May they continue to support humankind's space activities throughout the years to come.

The relevance and substance of space law as a branch of public international law continues to expand. The fourth edition of this long-time classic in the field of space law has been substantially rewritten to reflect new developments in space law and technology of the past ten years. This updated text includes new or expanded material on the proliferation of non-state and commercial entities as space actors, the appearance of innovations in space technology, the evolving international law of satellite telecommunications in a networked world, and the adoption of national laws and international soft law mechanisms that complement the international treaty regime. In this up-to-date overview of space law, the authors offer a clear analysis of the legal challenges that play a role in new and traditional areas of space activity, including the following: - the peaceful uses of outer space; - protection of the space environment; - the emergence of new legal mechanisms in space law; - the role of Europe in space; - telecommunications; - the commercial use of space resources; - human space flight; - small satellites; - remote sensing; and - global navigation satellite systems. Additionally, the five United Nations Treaties on space are included as Annexes for easy reference by students and professionals alike. In light of the many new developments in the field, this thoroughly updated Introduction to Space Law provides a clear overview of the legal aspects of a wide array of current and emerging space activities. Lawyers, policy-makers, diplomats, students, and professionals in the telecommunication and aerospace sectors, with or without a legal background, will find concise yet comprehensive guidance in this book that will help them understand and address legal issues in the ever-changing field of space activities. The authors are close former collaborators of the late pioneers of space law and authors of the earlier editions of this volume, Isabella Diederiks-Verschoor and Vladimír Kopal.

This book's twenty-six articles fully examine the major developments and issues of the law governing human activities in space, those of states as well as those of private entities. Topics include the legal framework evolved by and through the United Nations; the legal status of astronauts, satellites, and outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies; the military and commercial use of outer space; environmental protection; governmental responsibility for space activities; liability for damage caused by space objects, communications satellites; television broadcasts; remote sensing; commercial launchings; and the application of national laws on board spacecraft, space stations, and on the moon and other celetial bodies.

International Space Law and Space Laws of the United States provides helpful practice tips for representing clients and doing business in today's commercial space industry, as well as important coverage of the essentials of Space Law. Each chapter explores a nuanced space law issue and concludes with review questions. Written by two Georgetown Space Law professors who are also Space Law practitioners, this book is valuable for students of Space Law as well as practitioners.

The purpose of this book is to provide readers with the basic introduction of outer space law. It contains full, detailed and generic clarification and explanation of the provisions of the United Nations outer space treaties and resolutions.

Dr. Csabafi in his clearly and concisely written book sets out to confront the most pressing jurisdictional problems arising from the exploration and use of outer space, problems which the authors of the Outer Space Treaty of 27th January, 1967, have not attempted to solve. He has recognized that in view of the lack of sufficient knowledge of tech nological capabilities present and anticipated of the utilization of outer space and its political, economic and social implications, the time is not yet ripe for the elaboration of specific rules to govern most of the highly com plex issues in this context. Apart from the lack of sufficient knowledge and experience, the achieve ment of a consensus on rules regarding jurisdiction in outer space is further hampered by the strongly divergent interpretations of the fundamental prin ciples of the Outer Space Treaty namely the principle of freedom of outer space for exploration and use and the principle of non-appropriation of outer space. In various parts of his study Dr. Csabafi has, on the basis of a thorough study of the preparatory work of the Outer Space Treaty, ex pressed his views on the meaning of these principles.

The United Nations currently has five effective international space treaties, namely the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, Space Rescue Agreement of 1968, Space Liability Convention of 1972, Space Registration Convention of 1975, and Moon Agreement of 1979. However, with recent competition and movements to mine and exploit natural resources from such entities as the moon, asteroids, etc., these outdated treaties no longer address current advancements. It is imperative that new research is undertaken to urge and progress new space laws and policies that strengthen international cooperation and joint undertakings into the exploitation of natural resources from outer space. Global Issues Surrounding Outer Space Law and Policy grants a general understanding for the current issues and methods of solution in the field of outer space law and policy in the global society. It suggests a revision of the five international space treaties and presents a new International Space Agency (ISA) that would use international cooperation and an International Court of Air and Space Law to promote the speed of work and fairness in trials of air and space law cases. Additionally, solutions for the cooperation of the global community towards joint undertakings and exploitation of natural resources in celestial bodies is explored. This book is ideal for lawyers, professors, government officials, space agencies, academicians, researchers, students, and anyone looking to understand the complicated problems and methods of solution in international space law and policy.