Uniform International Space Traffic Standards
Presentation Type
Paper (supporting PowerPoints may be added as Additional Files)
Location
Henderson Welcome Center
Start Date
17-1-2018 9:30 AM
End Date
17-1-2018 11:00 AM
Abstract
In the past several years the dangers of navigating through outer space have increased exponentially. This debilitated environment is caused not only by the amount and diversity of private and public space traffic, but also by the recent release of many orbiting small satellites. These join a dangerous amount of space debris from years of injured and failed satellites. Unlike the well-ordered, policed air space, there currently are no effective plans for restoring outer space to a reasonably safe navigable state, Creation of minimum standard for outer space traffic could vastly improve safety. Also needed are uniform international standards for accident investigations, search and rescue, and safety zones around space stations. My paper will discuss a number of ways international cooperation could improve traffic safety, for example establishment of an international authority of technical experts to create safety standards, possibly to be located in a new standard setting authority in the UN Committee for Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, or an independent authority like ICAO or IMO, or an authority of industry experts, or a combination of these options.
Area of Interest
Current Initiatives
Biographies
Uniform International Space Traffic Standards
Henderson Welcome Center
In the past several years the dangers of navigating through outer space have increased exponentially. This debilitated environment is caused not only by the amount and diversity of private and public space traffic, but also by the recent release of many orbiting small satellites. These join a dangerous amount of space debris from years of injured and failed satellites. Unlike the well-ordered, policed air space, there currently are no effective plans for restoring outer space to a reasonably safe navigable state, Creation of minimum standard for outer space traffic could vastly improve safety. Also needed are uniform international standards for accident investigations, search and rescue, and safety zones around space stations. My paper will discuss a number of ways international cooperation could improve traffic safety, for example establishment of an international authority of technical experts to create safety standards, possibly to be located in a new standard setting authority in the UN Committee for Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, or an independent authority like ICAO or IMO, or an authority of industry experts, or a combination of these options.
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Check back for updates and the published full-text presentation.
Lyall and Larsen, Space Law a Treatise, (2nd ed. Routledge 2018)
Larsen, Sweeney and Gillick, Aviation Law, Cases, Laws and Related Sources (2nd ed. Martinus Nijhof 2012),