
Begin your space law journey with an introduction to the foundations, treaties, and scope of space law, including principles from areas like Antarctica and the law of the sea.
Explore the rapid growth of space law as a practical field for lawyers. See private sector expansion in West Texas, asteroid mining questions, debris liability, and treaties.
Examine where space begins, the Karman line, and how four forces of flight (weight, lift, drag, thrust) together with gravity and aircraft definitions inform space law and sovereignty.
Trace the history of space law from pre-spaceflight sovereignty debates to radio frequency regulation, heritage of mankind concepts, and the Sputnik-era space race.
Explore how Antarctica's treatment under international law, treaties, and sovereignty doctrines informs space law foundations, debates on jurisdiction, and the idea of shared governance for science.
Establishes the peaceful use of Antarctica, bans military activity and nuclear weapons, freezes territorial claims, and promotes scientific research under the Antarctic Treaty.
Explore the law of the sea as a framework for space law, detailing jurisdictional zones, piracy, and peaceful dispute resolution, and highlighting common heritage of mankind and navigational freedoms.
The lecture explains how customary law emerges from state practice and a sense of legal obligation, and how treaties, the Vienna Convention, and peremptory norms shape space law.
This course builds on the overview of space law your learned in Space Law 101, and examines the legal foundations of space law. The course has seven lectures. In part one, the Basics of Space Law, four lectures focus on; first, an introduction; second, the basic lexicon of space terminology, terms of art, and basic scientific principles of space technology; third, a current look at the increase in space investment and space law as a growing area; and fourth, the history of space law. In part 2, International Law Foundations in Space, we focus on areas of law that provide precedent and foundations for what we might encounter in space. This section includes two lectures on Antarctica and the Antarctica Treaty; a lecture on the Law of the Sea and how that relates to Space; and finally, a primer on Customary International law, which applies where there are otherwise no treaties. At the end of this course you will be better able to assess the law where business opportunities are emerging, apply and navigate the basics of space law, and draw from other areas of law in solving conflicts in space. (Note: None of this course constitutes legal advice and you should consult your own attorney for any questions you may have.)