Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 200963

Coordinator Steven Freeland Opens in new window

Description This unit examines the underlying legal principles that regulate the use, exploration and exploitation of space, and how International Law can and should be applied to the many different State and private commercial uses of outer space. It examines the existing international legal regime - the five United Nations Space Treaties and key Declarations of Principles related to space activities - as well as a number of domestic regulatory systems, including the Australian legal regime. The unit also concentrates on the (many) uses and proposed uses of space for which the legal framework may not be particularly well suited.

School Law

Discipline International Law

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Incompatible Subjects LAWS 3068 - Space Law – Commercial Aspects

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in 2824 Master of Laws, 2784 or 2810 Master of Laws (International Governance), 3735 Master of Data Science, 3699 Master of Information and Communications Technology, 3698 Master of Information and Communications Technology (Advanced) or Masters of Research programs 8083, 8084 or 8085.

Assumed Knowledge

Completed a law degree (Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor) or equivalent in any jurisdiction or have a broad understanding of both Australian and International Law. It is recommended that students without a legal qualification should review supplementary materials provided within the Learning Guide providing a summary of the Australian and International Law frameworks.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Assess key elements of the Australian legal framework as they relate to space law.
2. Examine the evolution of the legal regime regulating the use and exploration of space.
3. Analyse the international treaties and United Nations Principles which regulate space activities.
4. Critically examine problems within the existing legal regime relating to the use of space to persuasively present oral arguments.

Subject Content

- legal Definition of space and The need for A legal regime for space
- The role of UNCOPUOS (United nations Committee on Peaceful uses of Outer space)
- Differentiating space Law and Air Law
- The space Treaties and The United nations principles
- Telecommunications and The Geostationary Orbit
- national regulation of launching Activities
- The space environment and The Problem of space debris
- space tourism and Traffic control Issues and Coordination with The regulation of Air travel
- financing and Insurance aspects of space Activities
- Exploitation of space resources
- Military uses of Outer space