This dissertation discusses the legal aspects of ADR, analysing whether the current international legal framework for space activities adequately regulates ADR and if not, what the gaps are and how... Show moreThis dissertation discusses the legal aspects of ADR, analysing whether the current international legal framework for space activities adequately regulates ADR and if not, what the gaps are and how they can be filled. To answer this question, the dissertation identifies issues related to the governance of ADR that need legal answers. It then examines the two pillars of international space law: the hard law pillar, which encompasses the United Nations space treaties and other applicable rules and principles under general international law, and the soft law pillar, comprising non-legally binding instruments that set out expected behaviours and best practices in outer space. The aim is to assess whether these two pillars provide an adequate response to the regulatory needs of the identified issues. An examination of the two pillars shows that while the existing legal framework lays down fundamental rules and principles that apply to ADR activities, it falls short of adequately governing the identified issues associated with ADR. To address the regulatory gaps, this dissertation analyses initiatives undertaken at national and international levels relevant to the governance of ADR and provides recommendations for the further development of international space law to better accommodate ADR activities. Show less
Space data provide timely and reliable information that enables a wide variety of civil and commercial applications. Thanks to their volume, velocity, variety, and veracity, space big data create... Show moreSpace data provide timely and reliable information that enables a wide variety of civil and commercial applications. Thanks to their volume, velocity, variety, and veracity, space big data create the potential for additional benefits from space data.The benefits of space big data depend on the ways in which data are collected, accessed, used, and disseminated, therefore the laws and data policies that affect them should be studied. This thesis answers the question ‘How could space big data be regulated to address existing legal challenges and enhance their benefits?’. In particular, it identifies the laws and data policies that are relevant to the collection, access, use, and dissemination of space big data, among the legal frameworks that govern activities involving space or data. It also assesses the impact of the relevant laws and data policies, in terms of the limitations they impose on data collection, access, use, and dissemination. From the analysis of the relevant laws and data policies and their impact, the thesis draws the areas where their application encounters difficulties and describes the respective legal challenges. Based on these findings, recommendations are provided for overcoming the legal challenges and enhancing the collection, access, use, and dissemination of data, and by extension, their benefits. Show less
The character of the use and exploration of outer space has changed dramatically since the first artificial satellite was launched in 1957. The question this research addresses is whether the... Show moreThe character of the use and exploration of outer space has changed dramatically since the first artificial satellite was launched in 1957. The question this research addresses is whether the existing international legal framework for space activities adequately regulates current and future challenges and opportunities of the use, exploration and exploitation of outer space, and if not, how this can be remedied. It answers these questions in a series of published articles.Although the legal framework that was adopted by States since the 1960s is of immense value and must be preserved, the rapid pace at which technology advances and the increase and variety of actors in this field imply that it cannot address all challenges and opportunities in a sustainable, safe and secure manner.The existing legal framework must be clarified and supplemented, and the adoption of soft law, guidelines, resolutions at international and regional level, as well as the reinforcement of national frameworks and industry best practices seems the most pragmatic way forward.Outer space is an international realm and in formulating future space law it is essential to strive for a set of common rules of behaviour, including the views and needs of all stakeholders. Show less
