Recent Developments in Space Law ― Opportunities & Challenges

This book offers a compendium of diverse essays on emerging legal issues in outer space, written by experts in the field of Space Law from different parts of the globe. The book comprehensively addresses opportunities in space and the inevitable legal challenges that these space activities pose for mankind. It explores the increasing role of private sector in outer space, which calls for a review of policy and legislation; invites opinio juris from law scholars for ensuring the applicability of the Outer Space Treaty on all states without ratification and universal abidance with Space Law without demur; reflects upon the challenges for the global space community involved in implementing a more effective approach to international space governance; and considers the use of domestic laws, and the consequent need for legal reform, to encourage broader engagement with commercial space innovation. Further, the book delves into the adequacy of existing international liability regime to protect space tourists in the event of a space vehicle accidents; examines the increasing use of space for military activities and canvasses how International Law may apply to condition behaviour; highlights the challenges of scavenging space debris; calls for protections of space assets; touches upon the legal regime pertaining to ASAT and discusses other ways of creating normative instruments, which also come from other areas and use other methods.

Given its comprehensive coverage of opportunities in space and the inevitable legal challenges that they pose, the book offers a valuable resource for students, researchers, academics and professionals including government officials, industry executives, specialists, and lawyers, helping them understand essential contemporary issues and developments in Space Law.

R. Venkata Rao is a Professor of Law and Vice-Chancellor of the National Law School at India University, Bangalore. Prof. Rao has more than 31 years of teaching experience and has received several awards such as the “Best Vice-Chancellor Award for outstanding contribution to education” during the World Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors’ Congress in 2014; the “Best Teacher Award” from the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2006; the “Best Researcher Award” from Andhra University in 2003, and a Gold Medal for the best PhD thesis. His primary areas of research are human rights, humanitarian law and criminal justice. He has published extensively (more than 120 papers) in journals of national and international repute.

V. Gopalakrishnan is a Policy Analyst (Space Law & Policy) with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bangalore. His professional experience of over twenty-five years at the ISRO includes a good blend of techno-managerial and legal aspects pertaining to satellite projects and international cooperation in outer space activities. He has been a member of the Indian delegation to Legal Sub Committee meetings of UNCOPUOS (the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space), and has participated in international consultations on the ‘UNIDROIT Space Assets Protocol’, a Code of Conduct for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, legal aspects of space security, legal aspects of space debris management, etc. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India) and member of International Institute of Space Law.

Kumar Abhijeet works as Assistant Professor at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. He was Linnaeus-Palme fellow to Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (Sweden); Erasmus Mundus fellow to Department of Public International Law, Gent University, (Belgium); and participant of the programme “50 Years of Space Law – Space Law in 50 Years” of the Centre of Research and Studies at the Hague Academy of International Law (Netherlands). Kumar is also a Research Scholar at the Institute of Air and Space Law, University of Cologne (Germany). Besides being honored with the best paper presentation award twice at two distinct international conferences, he has quite a few publications to his credit in prestigious journals, and has also contributed chapters in edited books. Kumar is a member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), Paris and is also member of International Law Association (India Branch).