By Michelle Hanlon –      Space is truly a great unknown – especially from a legal standpoint. The Outer Space Treaty regime has served us well for the past sixty years, but we are now contemplating all sorts of new activities in a domain once solely the realm of superpower nations. The treaties reveal more gaps than solutions. We know the formation of law is a time-consuming and at times frustratingly persnickety process. So how can we promote the responsible and sustainable use of space? One way is to articulate ethical norms that will guide activity and underpin the gra ..read more

By Alexandra Dolce – November 2023 Human Rights are “rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.” Examples of human rights include: the right to health; the right to a clean and healthy environment; the right to life and security of person;  and the right to freedom of expression and association. Human  rights are relevant in the context of  commercial outer space exploration, mining,  tourism and eventual habitation because  the pursuit of these activities may impact the recognition and ..read more

By Anne-Sophie Martin – On November 2, 2023, a new Commercial Space Act has been introduced by the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairmen in order to promote and strengthen the commercial space sector in the United States. The Bill highlights four main points to enhance the sustainability of space activities, to reinforce the role of private entities and frame their activities with a clear application of Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty. It gives a clear role to the federal authority to regulate non-governmental space activities. The Bill aims to make more effective the compliance of ..read more

By Michelle Hanlon –      Space is truly a great unknown – especially from a legal standpoint. The Outer Space Treaty regime has served us well for the past sixty years, but we are now contemplating all sorts of new activities in a domain once solely the realm of superpower nations. The treaties reveal more gaps than solutions. We know the formation of law is a time-consuming and at times frustratingly persnickety process. So how can we promote the responsible and sustainable use of space? One way is to articulate ethical norms that will guide activity and underpin the gra ..read more

By Heath Hoeffner – In the boundless expanse above, a silent menace lurks: the Kessler Syndrome. As our presence in space grows, so does the danger of a catastrophic chain reaction of collisions, generating a perilous cloud of debris. Without a method to combat this menace, the capability of launching satellites and crewed spacecraft in the future is put at serious risk. In a 1978 paper, NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler foresaw a dire scenario: a cascade of collisions in low Earth orbit, spawning an expanding cloud of debris. Imagine it as if it was an orbital avalanche: one piece of debris de ..read more

By Alexandra Dolce – Space tourism enables non-astronauts to travel to outer space for leisure and business.  It will enable travelers to experience microgravity, visit landmarks and to literally view the universe. It has the potential of creating new jobs and inventing new space technologies. However, it is not without pitfalls. Space tourism will negatively affect the environment by creating additional space debris and by emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere which causes climate change. Additionally, “noise from space launches can” interfere with sound for navigation and commun ..read more

By Alexandra Dolce – Space tourism enables non-astronauts to travel to outer space for leisure and business.  It will enable travelers to experience microgravity, visit landmarks and to literally view the universe. It has the potential of creating new jobs and inventing new space technologies. However, it is not without pitfalls. Space tourism will negatively affect the environment by creating additional space debris and by emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere which causes climate change. Additionally, “noise from space launches can” interfere with sound for navigation and commun ..read more

By Michelle Hanlon –      Space is truly a great unknown – especially from a legal standpoint. The Outer Space Treaty regime has served us well for the past sixty years, but we are now contemplating all sorts of new activities in a domain once solely the realm of superpower nations. The treaties reveal more gaps than solutions. We know the formation of law is a time-consuming and at times frustratingly persnickety process. So how can we promote the responsible and sustainable use of space? One way is to articulate ethical norms that will guide activity and underpin the gra ..read more

By Michelle Hanlon –      Space is truly a great unknown – especially from a legal standpoint. The Outer Space Treaty regime has served us well for the past sixty years, but we are now contemplating all sorts of new activities in a domain once solely the realm of superpower nations. The treaties reveal more gaps than solutions. We know the formation of law is a time-consuming and at times frustratingly persnickety process. So how can we promote the responsible and sustainable use of space? One way is to articulate ethical norms that will guide activity and underpin the gra ..read more

By Heath Hoeffner – In the realm of space exploration, the Wolf Amendment stands as a legal barricade, stifling scientific collaboration and progress. This amendment, which restricts certain interactions between NASA and Chinese space activities, was implemented with the intention of safeguarding national security interests. However, as we delve into the intricacies of this policy, it becomes evident that its drawbacks far outweigh its purported benefits. This blog aims to dissect the Wolf Amendment, highlighting the legal and ethical grounds for its reconsideration. The Wolf Amendment, first ..read more