Houston We Have a Law. A Model for National Regulation of Space Resources Activities.

Salmeri, Antonino

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Houston We Have a Law. A Model for National Regulation of Space Resources Activities.

Salmeri, Antonino

2019 • In Proceedings of the 70th International Astronautical Congress 2018

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Keywords :

space law; public international law; space resources

Abstract :

[en] The field of space resources activities is rapidly maturing, but we still do not have a legal regime able to cope with such development. The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space finally started to debate whether commercialization of space resources is permitted under current international space law only in 2018, and yet declaring that space resources activities are lawful is barely the start. In fact, the real challenge is how to regulate them in light of the obligations set forth in international space law, without jeopardizing their economic convenience. The present paper addresses precisely this question by presenting a draft law redacted in articles, coupled with a comprehensive explanatory note. Inter alia, the paper introduces a new “space resources activities” license and proposes a detailed authorization regime based on the grant of priority rights limited in size, number and time extension. Based on the above, the paper concludes praising the importance of domestic regulation of space resources activities, when based on the same language and spirit of the OST and coordinated through mutual recognition.

Disciplines :

European & international law
Law, criminology & political science: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Salmeri, Antonino ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF) > Law Research Unit

External co-authors :

Language :

English

Title :

Houston We Have a Law. A Model for National Regulation of Space Resources Activities.

Publication date :

October 2019

Event name :

70th International Astronautical Congress

Event organizer :

International Astronautical Federation

Event place :

Washington DC, United States

Event date :

from 21-10-2019 to 25-10-2019

By request :

Yes

Audience :

International

Main work title :

Proceedings of the 70th International Astronautical Congress 2018

Publisher :

International Astronautical Federation

Focus Area :

Law / European Law

Available on ORBilu :

since 02 January 2020

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Bibliography

i Draft Report of the Fifty-seventh session on General Exchange of Views on Potential Legal Models for Activities in the Exploration, Exploitation and Utilization of Space Resources 3-7, UNCOPUOS Legal Subcommittee, Un. DOC A/AC.105/C.2/L.304/Add.3. (2018).
ii Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, entered into force Oct. 10, 1967, 18 U.S.T. 2410, 610 U.N.T.S. 205. [Hereinafter: “OST”]. As of 1 January 2019, 109 States have ratified the OST. See Status Of International Agreements Relating To Activities In Outer Space As At 1 January 2019 A/AC.105/C.2/2019/CRP.3, at: http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/oosadoc/data/documents/2019/aac.105c.22019crp/aac.105c.22019crp.3_0.htm l (accessed September 2019)
iii Evolution of UNCOPUOS' members, available at: http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/copuos/members/evolution.html (accessed September 2019)
iv S. Freeland, R. Jakhu, A Vital Artery Or A Stent Needing Replacement? A Global Space Governance System Without The Outer Space Treaty?, in “Proceedings of the 69th International Astronautical Congress”, Eleven Publishing International, The Hague, pp. 2-3 (2019)
v Art VI OST, supra ii.
vi International Institute of Space Law (IISL), Position Paper on Space Resources Mining 3 (2015). Available online at: http://iislwebo.wwwnlss1.a2hosted.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/12/SpaceResourceMining.pdf (last accessed October 2019).
vii Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, entered into force 27 Jan. 1980, 1155 U.N.T.S. 331. [Hereinafter “VCLT”]
viii A. Cassese, International Law 219 (2005); see also A. Salmeri, The Integration Between National and International Regulation of Space Resources Activities Under Public International Law, 43 (1) Journal of Space Law (in press).
ix As also suggested in Building Block 4.3 (d) by The Hague Space Resources Governance Working Group. See The Hague Working Group Draft Building Blocks On Space Resource Activities 2 (2017) [hereinafter: “Hague WG”].
x Arts. 31-32 VCLT, supra vii.
xi F. Tronchetti, Private Property Rights on Asteroid Resources: Assessing the Legality of the ASTEROIDS Act, 30 Space Policy 193-196 (2014).
xii IISL, supra vi.
xiii Art. VI OST, supra ii.
xiv As also suggested in building block 5.2. Hague WG, supra ix.
xv Response to Bigelow Aerospace Inquiry regarding Non-Interference (Dec. 22, 2014), FAA, cited in M. J. Sundahl, Regulating Non-Traditional Space Activities in the United States in the Wake of the CSLCA, 42 Air & Space Law 40 (2017).
xvi S. Marchisio, Article IX, in S. Hobe Et Al. (Eds.), Cologne Commentary On Space Law 174-176 (2009). [Hereinafter: “Article IX CoCoSL”]. The importance of non-harmful interference for space resources activities is also acknowledged in building block 4.3 (c). Hague Working Group, supra ix.
xvii T. Masson-Zwaan, Orbits and Frequencies: The Legal Context, in G. Penent (ed.), Governing the Geostationary Orbit: Orbital Slots and Spectrum Use in an Era of Interference 26 (2014).
See also T. Aganaba - Jeanty, Space Sustainability and the Freedom of Outer Space, 14 ASTROPOLITICS 1-19, (2016).
xviii M. Buzdugan, Recent Challenges Facing the Management of Radio Frequencies and Orbital Resources Used by Satellites, 2010 Proceedings of the International Institute of Space Law 326-336 (2011).
xix Adopting the model designed in building blocks 9 and 15. Hague WG, supra ix.
xx P. Dempsey, National Legislation Governing Commercial Space Activities, 1 Journal of Space Safety Engineering 45-46 (2014).
xxi As also per building block 6. Hague WG, supra ix.
xxii Following the principle of “adaptive governance” suggested in building block 4.2 (a). Hague WG, supra ix.
xxiii Similarly to building blocks 12 and 13. Hague WG, supra ix.
xxiv Including compliance with Article XII OST, as suggested in building block 16. Hague WG, supra ix.
xxv L. E. Shaw, Asteroids, The New Western Frontier: Applying Principles of the General Mining Law of 1872 to Incentive Asteroid Mining, 78 Journal of Air Law & Commerce 157-158 (2013).
xxvi As also per building block 13. Hague WG, supra ix.
xxvii The definitions of “space resource”, “space operations” and “space object” have been entirely reported from what The Hague WG suggests in building block 2. Hague WG, supra ix.
xxviii This provision has the purpose to facilitate the future implementation of the system proposed by the Hague WG, in an attempt to foster international cooperation on the regulation of space resources activities.
xxix This clause is in line with building block 4.2 (a-d) and has the meaning to show good will to other Countries wishing to nationally regulate space resources activities, in an attempt to preserve the peaceful uses of outer space.