ESA ministerial meeting results in record budget
On November 27 and 28, 2019, the ESA (European Space Agency) council meeting at ministerial level (Space19+) took place in Seville, Spain. Now that one week has past, let us take a view back at the meeting, its results and initial reactions expressed within Europe. →
A history of Vomit Comets
Parabolic flight, as a way of simulating weightlessness, was first proposed by the German aerospace engineer Fritz Haber and the German physicist Heinz Haber in 1950. Both had been brought to the U.S. after World War II as part of “Operation Paperclip”. →
The Bogotá Declaration and space law
By the Declaration Of The First Meeting Of Equatorial Countries or “Bogotá Declaration”, adopted on December 3, 1976, seven equatorial countries affirmed their sovereignty over the portions of geostationary orbit over their territory. These states are: Colombia, the Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda and Zaire. →
What is Asgardia?
Asgardia, also known as the “Space Kingdom of Asgardia” and “Asgardia the Space Nation”, is a micronation formed by a group of people who have launched a satellite into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). They refer to themselves as Asgardians and have given their satellite the name Asgardia-1. They have declared sovereignty over the space occupied by and contained within Asgardia -1. →
Who was Sally Ride?
Sally Ride, the youngest American astronaut to have traveled to outer space, having done so at the age of thirty-two, was the third woman in outer space overall, after U.S.S.R. cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova (1963) and Svetlana Savitskaya (1982). →
The Nigerian space program
The Nigerian space program is managed by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). The space policy was approved in May 2000. The mandate of the agency as encapsulated in the policy is to vigorously pursue the attainment of space capabilities as an essential tool for the socioeconomic development of the nation and the enhancement of the quality of life for Nigerians. →
Why does the FAA uses 50 miles for defining outer space?
“Why does the FAA uses 50 miles for defining outer space?” is a question some of us might have asked ourselves, especially when looking at the question of the delimitation of outer space, the different approaches – spatialist or functionalist – to space activities. For this new article, let’s have a look at the choice of the FAA to use 50 miles as the boundary between the atmosphere and outer space. →
Lex generalis and lex specialis
In international relations and more specifically in space law, issues of general law and special law, or lex generalis and lex specialis, are recurrent. Lex specialis is a Latin phrase which means “law governing a specific subject matter”. It comes from the legal maxim “lex specialis derogat legi generali”. This doctrine relates to the interpretation of laws. It can apply in both domestic and international law contexts. →
Who was Vikram Sarabhai?
Vikram Sarabhai (1919 – 1971), Indian award-winning physicist, industrialist and innovator, initiated space research and helped develop nuclear power in India. Considered the founding Father of the Indian space program, he has created the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). →
Who was Alexandre Ananoff?
Alexandre Ananoff was, well before the first passengers of spaceships, an astronaut: one of those who are interested in the science of rockets and space travel, astronautics. From the end of the 1920s to the launch of Sputnik 1 (1957), he has played a major role. →
Who was Eilene Galloway?
Eilene Galloway (May 4, 1906 – May 2, 2009), nicknamed “the Great lady of space”, is a founding member of NASA and has worked for the creation of space law. She has been recognized by her peers as one of the greatest experts in this field. →
Commercial Space Transportation Activities
The Office of Commercial Space Transportation, generally referred to as FAA/AST, is the branch of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that approves any commercial rocket launch operations in the case of a U.S. launch operator and/or a launch from the U.S.. →
Will outer space soon become inaccessible?
The growth of debris in outer space is exponential and collisions between discarded satellites could well trigger a chain reaction known as “Kessler Syndrome”. It would then be impossible to put satellites in orbit. →
Swarm Technologies and space law
Swarm Technologies, the Silicon Valley creator of “SpaceBee” picosatellites, is an American start-up based in California. On January 12, 2018, four satellites of the American start-up were illegally put into orbit by Antrix Corporation Limited; what are the space legal issues? →
The Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity brings together, under the auspices of the United Nations, one hundred and ninety-six countries participating in international negotiations on the preservation of biodiversity. The Convention entered into force on December 29, 1993. →
The Philippine Space Act
Rodrigo Duterte, the President of the Philippines, has just signed a new law called “The Philippine Space Act” (Republic Act No. 11363) on August 8, 2019. The latter will allow this country of Southeast Asia to create its own national space agency: the PhilSA. This agency will be situated in the Clark Special Economic Zone, north of Manila. →
Women in outer space
The first one hundred percent female extravehicular activity (EVA) took place last Friday from the International Space Station (ISS). Presented as an event by NASA, this release reminds us that aerospace remains a very masculine world: only ten percent of astronauts are women. →
Space legal issues concerning second-hand satellite market
The opportunity with on-orbit services would be the development related to the creation of a second-hand satellite market. Let’s study the space legal issues concerning second-hand satellite market. →
Light pollution: towards a right to darkness?
For ten years, the subject of light pollution has been more and more discussed. Researchers argue for a right to darkness, both to rediscover the starry sky and to protect ecosystems and human beings, who see lighting as a security symbol. →
Analysis of the 2008 French space law
The adoption of the 2008 French space law or “LOI du 3 juin 2008 relative aux opérations spatiales” on June 3, 2008, which addressed several issues intimately linked to the privatisation of space activities, marked the outcome of several years of discussions, and finally provided France with a legal framework for activities in outer space. →