Location
Holiday Inn, Manatee Room
Start Date
22-4-1992 2:00 PM
Description
Exploration of our solar system and beyond has barely begun. The challenges of space are limitless, and each addition to our ability to operate there opens new legal concerns between ourselves and our international partners. We are in fact living at the very beginning of time. Our descendants of far-off ages will use the legal framework we put in place to reach unimaginable opportunities. In the past our forefathers never envisioned the United States Constitution to be such a strong source of power for the government. Consequently "We the people of the United States" have the Bill of Rights. Will the legal framework we establish provide the guidance to extend beyond the solar system and journey to other stars?
In taking the logical steps in space to realize Space Exploration Initiative and beyond we must consider the legalities associated with birth, life, and death. Thus, the issue of birth on another planet is discussed. Would a lunar or Mars born space traveler obtain citizenship through the United Nations registry? To what earth bound land would this traveler be sovereign? The time of the birth, the day, and even the calendar year must be described in such a manner that when man does go beyond the solar system to other stars the legal framework established goes as well. Will the framework provide for genetic engineering to be realized in other worlds and not be suppressed by social and political earthbound ways?
Paper Session II-C - Legal Challenges in Realizing Interstellar Initiatives
Holiday Inn, Manatee Room
Exploration of our solar system and beyond has barely begun. The challenges of space are limitless, and each addition to our ability to operate there opens new legal concerns between ourselves and our international partners. We are in fact living at the very beginning of time. Our descendants of far-off ages will use the legal framework we put in place to reach unimaginable opportunities. In the past our forefathers never envisioned the United States Constitution to be such a strong source of power for the government. Consequently "We the people of the United States" have the Bill of Rights. Will the legal framework we establish provide the guidance to extend beyond the solar system and journey to other stars?
In taking the logical steps in space to realize Space Exploration Initiative and beyond we must consider the legalities associated with birth, life, and death. Thus, the issue of birth on another planet is discussed. Would a lunar or Mars born space traveler obtain citizenship through the United Nations registry? To what earth bound land would this traveler be sovereign? The time of the birth, the day, and even the calendar year must be described in such a manner that when man does go beyond the solar system to other stars the legal framework established goes as well. Will the framework provide for genetic engineering to be realized in other worlds and not be suppressed by social and political earthbound ways?
