ALBERT

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 5 July 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Bergit Uhran, Catharine Conley, J. Andy Spry〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Planetary protection, or the protection of celestial bodies from potentially harmful contamination, has been required by international law since the ratification of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space in 1967. At that time, scientists were concerned about the potential of contaminating the Moon or bringing back a life form of lunar origin when astronauts returned to Earth with samples. The evidence is that the Moon does not contain indigenous life, but other celestial bodies may. Mars is of particular concern because of its habitability and plans to carry out a robotic sample return mission and even potentially human crewed missions in the near future (next 20–30 years). This article (recognizing that other national and international tasks are ongoing with detailed studies of technical aspects of containment and sample analysis) provides an overview of the policy aspects of planetary protection and sample return, discussing the history of planetary protection, lessons learned from the Apollo missions, and a potential strategy to ensure prevention contamination if a robotic sample return mission is carried out. It is recommended that the capability performed in the 1960s by the Interagency Committee on Back Contamination be reestablished, that regulations be developed to allow quarantine of anyone exposed to the samples, that scientific and technical personnel be trained in a receiving laboratory for at least 2 years prior to sample return, and that a test protocol be established for examining the samples. This will protect our biosphere while enabling groundbreaking research into conditions on Mars and any possible signs of life.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 5 July 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Harald Köpping Athanasopoulos〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This article discusses the Moon Village concept within the context of the increasing momentum to return human beings to the surface of the Moon. The article follows a dual objective. Firstly, the Moon Village is probably the most misunderstood among the plethora of ideas to explore the Moon scientifically and commercially. The article is therefore intended to explore what the Moon Village actually is. Secondly, the article explores the strengths and weaknesses of the Moon Village. The article is divided into three sections. The first section reviews the current Moon projects of public and private space actors, including the United States, Russia, China, SpaceX and Blue Origin. It sets the scene for the argument that the Moon Village has entered global discourse on space within a positive political environment. The second section discusses the premises of ESA chief Jan Wörner’s Moon Village concept, putting forward that the Moon Village is intended as an open concept rather than as a concrete plan. It is a process rather than a project and it is meant to initiate a global conversation on humanity’s future on the Moon. As such, the world café is an appropriate metaphor to illustrate the idea behind the Moon Village. In the third and final section a SWAT/PEST analysis is conducted to assess the feasibility of the Moon Village, highlighting that one of the major opportunities of the project is to promote international cooperation. The article concludes by supporting the institutionalist hypothesis that the Moon Village is arguably a translation of the ESA system to the global level, as participation is voluntary and as it builds on the strengths of each cooperation partner. As such, the Moon Village in indeed a new way of doing space on the global level.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 13 August 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Takuya Wakimoto〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Commercial space transportation (CST) will occur in the foreseeable future. After the success of Virgin Galactic's first suborbital commercial human spaceflight in 2004, many believed that our generation will explore another frontier of technology. Despite technological advancements, however, the international law currently in place is not prepared to regulate and secure the safety of CST including human spaceflights. Previous legal studies mainly focused on finding ways to accommodate CST under existing international laws, air law, or space law regime. Nevertheless, more than fifty years of legal discussion have yet to yield a decisive solution. Against the odds, CST will commence its business sooner or later. While national laws would be sufficient in many CST operations, some operations (e.g., international flight) would require international rules to secure a safe CST operation akin to what the aviation community developed for international air transport. That mechanism is encompassed in the technical standards created by the International Civil Aviation Organization. In this respect, this study aims to analyze a way to generate internationally harmonized technical standards on CST activities, with or without achieving an international law for CST. First, the article analyzes past legal discussion to understand the landscape of future aerospace activities. Then, the study reviews the history of the international aviation legal regime to find the implications of creating internationally harmonized technical standards for CSTs. The study suggests to the international community first, to forge a common ground across countries and second, that qualitative (not quantitative) international technical standards should arise based on this mutual understanding.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 5 August 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Joel Marks〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: November 2018〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy, Volume 46〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): 〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: August 2018〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy, Volumes 44–45〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): 〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 28 December 2018〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): M. Deva Prasad〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This article provides an analysis of the concept of sustainable development in the context of current international space law. The extent of doctrinal conflicts and consensus of the international space law conventions and instruments with the concept of sustainable development could be well understood from this analysis. The result clearly indicates that there is consonance between the legal concept of sustainable development and international space law framework. At the same time, the article points out that the various issues relating to the long-term sustainable use of outer space and concerns faced because of a gap in international space law still exist. To curb this problem, it is important to improve the normative nature of international space law. The analysis helps in highlighting that incorporating the legal concept of sustainable development in a proactive manner into international space law would help in increasing the normative character as well as increasing its effectiveness.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 13 December 2018〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Wanlu ‘Laura’ ZHANG〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Space exploration is a trailblazing project endowed with multiple uses by multiple users. The human settlement project on celestial bodies, such as the Moon Village, will give rise to complex activities. To regulate these activities, it is necessary to extend earthly countries' jurisdiction into outer space. This article examines existing rules on extraterritorial jurisdiction and identified possible problems thereof. This article offers solutions by making reference to the jurisprudences from human rights law. For the jurisdictional quasi-territorial jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction, this article offers new criteria in establishing them.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 11 March 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Maria Libera Battagliere, Maria Virelli, Fabrizio Lenti, Davide Lauretta, Alessandro Coletta〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean Basin Observation COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) is one of the most advanced and powerful assets in the Earth observation field in which Italy plays a key role at world level. CSK has been designed for dual-use purposes to fulfill both civilian and defense needs, providing useful scientific and commercial applications and strategic monitoring. Since 2008, thanks to its features, the Italian Constellation is able to provide a strong contribution in several application domains such as Geo-hazard Risk Management (seismic events, volcano eruptions, landslides monitoring, and so forth), Ocean and Marine Applications, Land Cover and Vegetation, Polar Research, Cultural Heritage Monitoring, Water Resources and Hydrology. The focus of this article is to analyze the CSK data exploitation to monitor the trend over the last 4 years (2014-2017). Specifically, statistics have been provided based on different acquisition modes, application domains, and the geographic area of interest. The article also highlights the role of the CSK system in the context of international cooperation, focusing on the ongoing partnerships and agreements signed by the Italian Space Agency to facilitate CSK data exploitation.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 11 March 2019〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Space Policy〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Yun Zhao, Shengli Jiang〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Armed conflict in outer space could happen in two scenarios: first, a state may rely on relevant data obtained from the satellites to strengthen the effectiveness of its military action and second, a state may use either space-based or ground-based space weapons to attack a military target. Legally speaking, the above two scenarios constitute the use of force as defined in international law rules. From jurisprudential point of view, the extension of the right to self-defense to armed conflict in outer space provides a potential legitimate basis for the use of force in outer space, which is indirectly confirmed in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. In view of the potentially serious consequences arising from armed conflicts in outer space, general principles and rules in international humanitarian law (including the limitation principle, the distinction principle, and the proportionality principle), together with the soft law rules and draft conventions arising from the ongoing regulatory efforts, shall provide a basic regulatory framework for armed conflict in outer space.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉