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United Nations Conference on Disarmament - Geneva
MUSIS - Multinational Space Based Imaging System
SPOT - Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office (CRSRAO)
Commercial Remote Sensing Compliance and Monitoring Program (CRSCMP)
National Space Policy of the US - 2010
National Space Policy of the US - 2006
National Security Space Strategy - 2011
Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines - 1993
The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) is an international forum of governmental bodies for the coordination of activities related to the issues of man-made and natural debris in space. The primary purpose of the IADC is to exchange information on space debris research activities between member space agencies, to facilitate opportunities for co-operation in space debris research, to review the progress of ongoing co-operative activities and to identify debris mitigation options.
Members of the IADC are the Italian Space Agency (ASI), British National Space Centre (BNSC), Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), China National Space Administration (CNSA), Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), European Space Agency (ESA), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Japan, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU) and Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos).
One of its efforts is to recommend debris mitigation guidelines, with an emphasis on cost effectiveness, that can be considered during planning and design of spacecraft and launch vehicles in order to minimise or eliminate generation of debris during operations. This document provides guidelines for debris reduction, developed via consensus within the IADC.
The leading text on space law is "The Laws of Spaceflight" by Matthew Kleiman, Jenifer Lamie, and Maria-Vittoria "Giugi" Carminati. It is available from the ABA. Kleiman also teaches a class on space law at Boston University.
Noteworthy links while reading the book:
Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
International Telecommunications Union
Red lines in outer space by Matthew Kleiman and Sonia McNeil
1947 Armed Services Procurement Act
1949 Federal Property and Administrative Services Act
1949 Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom)
1958 National Aeronautics and Space Act (Unamended)
1958 National Aeronautics and Space Act (Amended)
1962 Communications Satellite Act (Comsat Act)
The Outer Space Treaty turns 50. Can it survive a new space race?
1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and updates
1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty
1972 Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects
1974 Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act
1975 Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space
1979 Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies
1981 Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) - and updates
1984 Commercial Space Launch Act
1984 Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act
1984 Competition in Contracting Act (CICA)
1992 Land Remote Sensing Policy Act
1993 Chemical Weapons Convention
1994 Presidential Decision Directive 23 by President Clinton
1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
U.S. Freedom of Information Act
Kyl-Bingaman Amendment - Section 1064 of the Defense Authorization Act of 1997
1998 Intergovernmental Agreement on Space Station Cooperation
2004 Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (CSLAA)
Virginia's Space Flight Liability and Immunity Act of 2007
2007 Global Exploration Strategy
2007 United Nations Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines
2009 U.S.C. Title 51: National and Commercial Space Programs
Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space
Space Policy - news, information, and analysis about civil, military, and commercial space programs
United Nations Treaties and Principles on Space Law
US Space Legislation and Policies
International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC)
Orbital Debris Reference Documents
The Air and Space Lawyer Online
International Institute of Space Law
National Center for Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law
ABA SciTech Space Law Committee
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
General Services Administration (GSA)
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
FAA Rules on Commercial Space Transportation
Office of Commercial Space Transportation
Efficient Use Policy and Open Skies Policy
Telecommunications CFRs - Title 47
Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
Section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA)
Electronic Export Information (EEI)
National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM)
Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC)
Destination Control Statement (DCS)
Defence Security Service (DSS)
Manufacturing License Agreement (MLA)
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
Significant Military Equipment (SME)
Special Export Controls (SECs)
FAR 33 - procedures for protests
Allowable Cost and Payment Clause (FAR 52.166-7)
Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)
FAR 52.250-1 Indemnification under Public Law 85-804
Boyle v. United Technologies Corp - 487 U.S. 500 (1988)
National Industrial Security Program (NISP)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel (INSRP)
Center for Space Standards and Innovation (CSSI)
Satellite Orbital Conjunction Reports Assessing Threatening Encounters in Space (SOCRATES)
International Scientific Optical Network (ISON)
Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
The World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty (WCT)
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
International Council of Scientific Unions' Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
2004 Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (CSLA) - PUBLIC LAW 108–492
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Licensed launch of spaceflight participants for revenue - 51 USC 50905
Paying claims exceeding liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements - 51 USC 50915
Liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements - 51 USC 50914
Chapter 513 - Space Resource Commercial Exploration and Utilization
SpaceX Falcon Heavy - as of today, September 4, 2014 - the world's most powerful rocket
SpaceX Dragon cargo vessel was captured by the International Space Station's robotic arm on May 25, 2012.
It was the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the station.
1965: INTELSAT established the first commercial global satellite communications system.
2009: first major collision between an operational satellite and space debris - Iridium 33/ Cosmos 2251
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Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS): satellite system used to pinpoint the geographic location of a user's receiver anywhere in the world
International Lawmaking Process
- Treaties
- Customary International Law
International Dispute Resolution
- International Court of Justice (ICJ)
- Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs)
- Permanent Court of Arbitration
4 Methods for making International Agreements in the U.S.
1. Treaties
2. Congressional Executive Agreements
3. Presidential Executive Agreements
4. Treaty-Authorized Executive Agreements
Department of State Circular 175
International Sources of Space Law
5 Major Outer Space Treaties
4 U.N. General Assembly Resolutions
2. U.N. Res. 41/65. Principles relating to remote sensing of the Earth from space
3. U.N. Res. 47/68. Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space
Types of Government Contracts
FAR 16.2 - Fixed-price contracts
FAR 16.3 - Cost-reimbursement contracts
FAR 16.4 - Incentive contracts
FAR 16.5 - Indefinite-delivery contracts
FAR 16.6 - Time-and-material contracts
CRADA - Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
SAA - Space Act Agreement
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Law Offices of Laura Montgomery
The Law Offices of Laura Montgomery publish Ground Based Space Matters.
Ground Based Space Matters is intended to highlight and explore space law and policy issues, and does not constitute or provide legal advice.
FCC’s Proposed New Orbital Debris Rules: Jurisdiction, Duplication, and Indemnification
When did the FAA release a draft rule? In days of yore.
New Executive Order on Space Mining, the Moon Agreement, and Customary International Law
March 2021 - FAA Streamlined Launch and Reentry Rule Takes Effect
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