Activities in space today are far more numerous and complicated compared to 1967, before humans had landed on the moon or Elon Musk had been born. Two experts explain the need for better laws to keep space peaceful.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Space Law
Displaying 1 - 20 of 38 articles
Russia’s testing of an anti-satellite weapon risked the life of astronauts on the International Space Station and could have astronomical impacts on Earth.
Sure, they’re billionaires, but the exploits of Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos have undeniably brought space tourism a step closer. That raises tricky legal, ethical and environmental questions.
Chances are small that space junk will destroy property or harm a person, and existing space law could deal with such an event. But current law doesn’t address the bigger problem of space pollution.
Earth orbit is filling up with satellites and space junk. Technological fixes can only go so far to deal with the problem.
As Australia’s efforts in space accelerate, we must avoid escalating a cycle of competition and conflict.
The space laws designed to protect planets and moons from contamination.
Who cares what happens to bootprints on the Moon? All humans should. And thankfully the US Congress and president agree.
A change of government in the USA means less risk of ‘space war’ and more hope for peaceful cooperation.
Some nations are concerned the Artemis Accords represent a US power grab.
US and international law conflicts about who would be in charge if a private company established a Moon base or colonized Mars.
Governments and corporations must get serious about the legal, technical, economic, social and ethical implications of a potential space-based resource economy.
Following announcements by France and the US, NATO is expected to start using space weapons.
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In the fourth episode of our podcast series, we look at the practical, legal and ethical questions about going to set up base on the moon – and mining its resources.
This are looking up when it comes to launching things into space from Australia. The rules on what can be launched are currently under review and open for comment.
India, China, the United States and Russia can now precisely target objects in space. But we currently lack appropriate rules and regulations to deal with space weapons.
Objects left on the Moon are not just abandoned rockets and rovers. There is a lot of historic and sentimental memorabilia. Some of it hints at a mission that the first Moonwalkers almost forgot.
In the space beyond Earth’s atmosphere, countries are focusing on nationalist pursuits and ignoring the consequences for the rest of humanity. How can we keep the peace and build a sustainable future?
At the end of the day, the problem is that no-one on Earth wants nuclear waste stored near them, and it’s not safe or cost-effective to blast it into space.
The headquarters of the Australian Space Agency will be in Adelaide. So how did we get to this point? Here are ten essential reads to fill you in.
Top contributors
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Emeritus Professor of International Law, Western Sydney University
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Professor (Digital Technology, Security and Governance), Flinders University
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Reader (Associate Professor) in Law, University of Kent
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Full Professor, Acting Director, Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University
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Professor of Air and Space Law, University of Mississippi
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Professor of Law, University of Adelaide
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Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics; Executive Director, Ostrom Workshop; Cybersecurity Program Chair, IU-Bloomington, Indiana University
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PhD candidate, law and military uses of outer space, University of Adelaide
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PhD candidate, School of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Sydney
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Executive Director, Centre for Research in Air and Space Law, McGill University
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Andrew Dempster is a Friend of The Conversation.
Director, Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research; Professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, UNSW
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Associate Professor in Archaeology and Space Studies, Flinders University
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Visiting Fellow, Department of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science
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Lecturer in Astronomy, Nottingham Trent University
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Research Associate in Nuclear Politics, University of Leicester
