Universität Wien

030452 KU Commercial Aspects of Space Law (2017S)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 40 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 28.03. 17:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum SEM43 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
  • Wednesday 29.03. 17:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum SEM43 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
  • Monday 03.04. 17:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum SEM43 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
  • Tuesday 04.04. 17:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum SEM43 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
  • Wednesday 05.04. 17:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum SEM43 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
  • Wednesday 03.05. 13:00 - 16:00 PC-Raum 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10, 1.UG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course 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 expands on 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 and then focuses on specific issues of contemporary interest.

Method:

1. The Course will be taught by way of 5 x 3 hour in-class seminars (17.00-20.00 on 28 and 29 March and 3, 4, 5 April) plus a site visit to attend the UNCOPUOS LSC Meeting at VIC .

2. Students will be required to prepare for the classes by completing the assigned readings before each class.

Aims:
It is anticipated that the Course will enable students to:

1. Understand the historical evolution of the existing international legal regime regulating the use and exploration of outer space.

2. Engage in critical discussion of specific problems arising from the assigned readings

3. Analyse and examine the details of the five international Treaties and the various United Nations Principles which regulate certain activities in space.

4. Critically consider the problems and ambiguities within the existing legal regime.

Assessment and permitted materials

1. Short in-class test on 4 April 2016 (20% of the final mark)

2. Final written short answer exam on 25 April 2017 (10 questions - 90 minutes - 80% of the mark)

3. Students may bring a copy the Space Law Treaties and Resolutions to both exams.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students are required to attend at least 4 out of the 6 scheduled classes, including the visit to the UNCOPUOS LSC Meeting.

Examination topics

1. The fundamental principles of international space law including responsibility/liability, peaceful purposes, non-appropriation, jurisdiction and control
2. The space law treaties / major soft-law instruments

3. The exploitation of space natural resources / property rights in space
4. The needs of developing countries
5. The military uses of outer space
6. The utilisation of small satellites
7. Dispute resolution mechanisms
8. The need for national space law
9. The space environment / long-term sustainability
10. The use of insurance for commercial space activities
11. Space tourism

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 31.03.2022 00:15