National Space Law

This book provides a unique in-depth comparative and evaluative analysis based upon primary sources. Therefore, it does not only provide a more complete understanding of the subject compared to other publications but, because it provides a full perspective, can also serve as a basis for further research. The interest in national space legislation, and the importance thereof to regulating space activities conducted by private entities, gives a clear incentive to conduct a comparative analysis of the national space legislation of various states. The purpose of this report is to provide such a comparative analysis that will detail the similarities and differences between the national space laws of selected states with a focus on European comprehensive national space legislation. The states discussed are: Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Indonesia, Denmark, New Zealand and Luxembourg. This report is intended to assist the efforts of states that are seeking to enact or revise national space legislation not only by presenting the approaches taken by other states, but also by presenting, as far as possible, the rationale behind their approaches. The readership of this book consists of academics and professionals in space law and can further assist policymakers wishing to revise or enact national space legislation.

Durch den Start des Satelliten BRITE Austria (TUGSAT-1) im Jahr 2008 wird Osterreich erstmals "Start-Staat" im volkerrechtlichen Sinn sein. Mangels eines osterreichischen Weltraum-Gesetzes sind viele Rechtsfragen in diesem Kontext jedoch ungeklart.Im September 2006 kamen internationale Experten zu einer Konferenz in Graz zusammen, um uber Notwendigkeit und Mindestinhalte nationaler Weltraumrechts-Gesetze zu diskutieren. Konferenzbeitrage und Ergebnisse, weiterfuhrende Analysen und der mogliche Inhalt eines osterreichischen Weltraumgesetzes, dies auf der Basis eines Vergleichs mit jungsten nationalen Weltraumgesetzen in Europa, werden zum Teil auf Englisch und zum Teil auf Deutsch veroffentlicht.

In National Space Law in China, Yun Zhao examines space laws, regulations and policies in China. As the first English monograph on national space legislation in China, this book shall contribute to the understanding of China’s space law regime.

A. GENERAL BACKGROUND “The foremost goal of the international community in the area [of private space launch services] should be to induce states to implement effective licensing procedures applicable to commercial ventures for which state responsibility may 1 exist. ” 1. PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY In the first decades of the space age, military and state security motivations indicated the direction of national space programs. Now the development of space activities depends essentially upon the possibility of recovering 2 investments. Private sector-driven commercial endeavors in outer space have been increasing exponentially and have experienced a significant quantitative growth over the last years. Spacefarers promote commercial participation of private companies in operations related to outer space, and, thus, the private sector is now increasingly providing satellite telecommunications, remote sensing, global positioning and space launch services directly to its customers. In this context, overall revenues for the worldwide space industry 3 amounted to US$ 82 billion in 2001. In the late 1990’s the transponder demand, in particular Ku- band transponders, was consistently on the rise due 4 to the escalated utilization of geostationary satellite transponders. Global positioning systems have been playing an increasingly important role in navigation, and remote sensing systems are mapping and documenting nearly 1 E. A. Frankle & E. J. Steptoe, “Legal Considerations Affecting Commercial Space Launches From International Territory”, (1999) 50 IISL at 10. Emphasis added. 2 H. L.

The book deals with the main themes in implementing international space law vis-à-vis private enterprise theme by theme, with a specific focus on Europe in view of the complicating roles of ESA and the European Union in this context.

Brings together in a single collection all international and national space regulations and related materials of interest. Although the United States was the most dominant nation during the early development of space law, a growing number of nations have since contributed their national law to the field of space jurisprudence and increasingly, non-U.S. law has been added. To reflect this development, the title has been changed to Space law, a title which more appropriately reflects the comprehensive content of the volumes.

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.

The legal regime of outer space, as enshrined in the Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space (General Assembly Resolution 1962 (XVIII), adopted in 1963, and in the 1967 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, while prohibiting the appropriation of space by any means, envisages exploration for the bene?t and in the interest of all countries on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law. Freedom of scienti?c investigation is also contemplated. Elaborating on these instruments, the Assembly in 1996 adopted the Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space (RES 51/122), in which it called for heightened international co-operation, with part- ular attention to be given to the bene?t for and the interests of developing countries and countries with nascent space programmes. Thus, it is self-evident that the outer space regime, including the 1972 Liability Convention, envisages the conduct of national activities “for the bene?t and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scienti?c dev- opment”. In this regard, Article 6 of the 1967 Treaty not only provides for national activities in outer space, but for international responsibility whether such activities are carried out by governmental agencies or non-governmental entities, and aims at ensuring that national activities are conducted in conformity with the Treaty.