Outer Space in Society, Politics and Law

887 Pages·2011·10.552 MB·English

by  Christian Brünner, Alexander Soucek (auth.), Christian Brünner, Alexander Soucek (eds.)

~
SpringerWienNewYork
Studies in Space Policy
Volume 8
Edited by the European Space Policy Institute
Director: Kai-Uwe Schrogl
Editorial Advisory Board:
Herbert Allgeier
Frank Asbeck
(cid:2)
Alvaro Azcarraga
Frances Brown
Alain Gaubert
Leen Hordijk
Peter Jankowitsch
Ulrike Landfester
(cid:2)
Andre Lebeau
Alfredo Roma
€
Christian Brunner
Alexander Soucek (eds.)
Outer Space
in
Society, Politics and Law
SpringerWienNewYork
Editors
ChristianBr€unner
Alexander Soucek
EditorialAssistance
ThomasNeger
Nina-LouisaRemuss
Assistance
Andrea Lauer
Hannes Mayer
Georg K€onigsberger
Anita Rinner
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Preface
Preface
“Man must rise abovethe Earth
– tothe top of theatmosphere and beyond–
foronly thus will he fully understand the world
in which he lives.”
(aphorism, attributed toSokrates, c.470/469–399 BC)
Space is not only fascinating – it has also become the subject and the place of
manifoldactivities.Itisabouttheexplorationofspace,thedevelopmentofspace
technologyanditsutilisationfordifferentobjectivesbutalsotheapplicationofthe
resultsofspaceresearchandspacetechnologyinnumerousfieldsofeverydaylife.
An example of the so-called spin-offs is the Adeli-suit. Originally this tech-
nology was developed for human spaceflight in order to avoid astronauts’
movement disorders caused by muscular dystrophy and atrophy of the central
nervoussystemundertheconditionofzerogravity.Nowitisusedforthetreatment
ofchildrenandjuvenilessufferingfromspasticdiplegiaordramaticbraininjury
after accidents.
Thisvolumeaimstoshowthatspacehasbecomeanimportantfieldofhuman
activity.Itshapessociety;itdependsonpoliticaldecisions;itinfluencesdifferent
areasoflife,strategicallyaswellasoperatively.Theimportanceattributedtospace
is evident in a quantitative way. The resources needed and employed are so
enormousthattheyaremostlybeyondthecapabilityofsinglenations.Thiscallsfor
cooperation,whichhasbeenaguiding“principle”sincethebeginning,notleastfor
the developmentof space law.
Spaceactivitiesneedregulationjustlikeallhumanactivities.Themainobjective
of regulation is to foster and preserve conditions desired by politics and society
whilst impeding and eliminating undesired ones. As in every law-generating
process,very diverse interests influence the decision-making process.
Thecentralelementsofinternationalspacelawarethespacelawtreatiesand
spacelawresolutionsoftheUnitedNations.Yetspacelawisnotonlybasedon
internationallaw.Inrecentyearsnationalspacelawsandotherspace-relatedlegal
actswithintheEuropeanUnionhavebeenadded.BaseduponaSymposiumheld
attheUniversityofGrazin2006(NationalSpaceLawDevelopmentinEurope–
ChallengesforSmallCountries),aspacelawactisalsobeingdrawnupinAustria.
Thisvolumefocusesonspacelawbutalsoonthe“real”,i.e.socialandpolitical
context of spaceflight, discussing cultural, technical, economic and political
aspects,aswellasspacehighlightsinhistoryandatpresent.Itisourstrongbelief
v
Preface
thatlegalnormscanonlybetaughtandunderstoodiftheircontextissufficiently
highlighted. That is not always the case in purely academic treatises. This
volume thereforeaims to fill agap.
Ontheonehand,thevolumepursuesanobject-orientedclassification.Onthe
other, current “hot issues” such as privatisation and commercialisation of outer
space, space and security, and technology controlare highlighted case bycase.
AseparatepartofthevolumeisdedicatedtoactivitiesinAustria.Generallynot
associatedwithhightechnologyandspaceflight,Austria’sparticipationinspace
lawmattersalreadyhasalonghistory.Comparedtoitssize,Austria’scontribution
to space law developmentis qualitatively and quantitatively considerable.
The volume has been written in the organisational context of the Austrian
NPOC (National Point of Contact) of the ECSL (European Center for Space
Law operating within the ESA). It was financed as an individual project of the
BMVIT(Bundesministeriumf€urVerkehr,InnovationundTechnologie[Federal
Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology]) assisted by the BMWF
(Bundesministerium f€ur Wissenschaft und Forschung [Federal Ministry for
Science and Research]), the Rector of the University of Graz and the Dean of
theLawSchool.OthercontributorsweretheGovernmentoftheprovinceofStyria
and the University of Graz. Wethank all sponsors and supporters.
Wehopethatthisvolumecanblendthefascinationthegeneralpublichasfor
space activities with the importance of understanding the law and politics
influencing them. We all are fascinated by a mighty rocket launch, by satellite
imagesorbytheworkandlifeofastronautsinspace.Butthereislittleorevenno
awarenessoftheenormousextenttowhichspaceactivitiesinfluenceourlives.In
shedding light on the manifold interactions between the “high-tech world” of
spaceflightand“everydaylife”,wehopethatthevolumewillcontributetosociety’s
approvalofspaceactivities(whichundoubtedlycallforalargeamountofresources
andthereforeneedexplanationandjustificationjustasanyothersubjectmatter).
Wewishtothank oursponsors,whowere essentialfor therealisationofthis
comprehensivevolume.Wealsothankallauthors,whocontributedtothisbook
despitetheirworkloadandmanyobligations.Furthermorewewouldparticularly
like to thank Mag. Gernot Gr€omer forcomplementing the book with images.
LastlywewanttothankProf.Dr.Kai-UweSchroglforhisfeedbacktothefirst
draftofthetableofcontentsandforpublishingthisvolumewithintheseriesof
publications of the ESPI (European Space Policy Institute) “Studies in Space
Policy”.
Graz, July 2011 ChristianBr€unner, AlexanderSoucek
vi
Foreword
Foreword
Theyear2011celebratedthe50thanniversaryofthefirsthumanspaceflightby
Yuri Gagarin. It also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United Nations
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), the leading
internationalbodytopromoteinternationalcooperationandtoprepareinterna-
tional regulations. During the half century since this memorable year 1961 we
havewitnessedadramaticspaceracebetweenthe“East”andthe“West”,which
were thetwo superpowersat thattime; wehave experienced asometimes bitter
struggle between the “North” and the “South” for a fair international order for
outerspaceactivities;andwearrivedatapointwherewecansay:outerspaceisan
ever growingissue in society and politics.
Thisiswhythisbookcomesatatime,whereathoroughassessmentofthestatus
and potentialofspace activitiesisparticularly needed. Itundertakes thisassess-
ment with an accurate and thoughtful but at the same time fresh and vivid
approach.Itisontheonehandathoroughlyresearchedcompendiumofanalysis
but on the other hand also provides the sense of the outstanding status space
maintainsasoftoday.Thisiswhyithighlightsinitstriasconstitutingthecharacter
ofspacethenotionthatspaceisafascinatingissueequallybesidestheelementsof
spaceasarealandasalegalissue.Buildingonthis,ittouchesthehottopicsforthe
future use of outer space such as privatisation, security, sustainability and tech-
nology proliferation, covering the whole spectrum of what is at stake for space
policy and space law todayand in thenearfuture.
The editors Christian Br€unner and Alexander Soucek as well as the large
majority of the contributors are Austrians or are associated with institutions
located in Austria, thus demonstrating the broad expertise and top intellectual
landscapeinspacetechnology,policyandlawinthiscountry.Theseries“Studies
inSpacePolicy”isparticularlyenhancedbythepublicationofthisbook,whichis
innovative in its approachand extraordinary in thedepth of its analyses.
Kai-UweSchrogl
Director
European Space PolicyInstitute (ESPI)
vii
Tableofcontents
Table of contents
Preface . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. .v
Foreword
Kai-UweSchrogl.. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..vii
CHAPTER 1 Outer space – a fascinating issue. .. . .. . . .. .1
1.1 Introductory remarks. ChristianBru€nner.. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. .3
1.2 Fascination from the beginning of mankind.
AlexanderSoucek. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. .6
1.2.1. Astronomy . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. .8
1.2.2. Spaceflight. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. 11
1.2.3. Fascinating questions. . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..12
1.3 Reasons forspaceactivities: some thoughts.
AlexanderSoucek. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..15
1.4 A short chronology of spaceflight.
Hannes Mayer .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..20
1.4.1. The “Pre-Sputnik Years” . . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..20
1.4.1.1 Early developments . . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..20
1.4.1.2 The advent of modern rocketry. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..21
1.4.2. The space age . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..22
1.4.2.1 The beginningof the space age. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..22
1.4.2.2 The quest for the Moon.. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..23
1.4.2.3 Consolidation and reorganisation . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..24
1.4.2.4 1980s to the end of the ColdWar .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..24
1.4.2.5 1990s until today – internationalcooperation.. . . .. . . .. . .. . . ..25
ix
Tableofcontents
CHAPTER 2 Outer space – a “real” issue. . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .31
2.1 Dimensions of space activities . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .33
2.1.1 The cultural dimension of space. AlexanderSoucek . . .. .34
2.1.1.1 Strasbourg. . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .34
2.1.1.2 Culture and confusion .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .36
2.1.1.3 Kant and theKlingons.. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .37
2.1.1.4 Musicof it all . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .40
2.1.1.5 Forever cloudy. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .42
2.1.2 The technical dimension of space. Otto Koudelka. .. . .. .46
2.1.2.1 Satellite communications . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .46
2.1.2.2 Satellite navigation. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .49
2.1.2.3 Remote sensing and weather satellites.. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .50
2.1.2.4 Technology formanned spaceflight and space probes. .. . . .. . .. .52
2.1.2.5 Launchers. . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .53
2.1.3 The economicdimension. Christophe Venet. . . .. . . .. . .. .55
2.1.3.1 The emergence of space commerce. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .55
2.1.3.2 Definition of space economy.. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .58
2.1.3.3 Specifics of space economy. .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .60
2.1.3.4 Overview of theglobal space economy.. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .63
2.1.3.5 Conclusion:the economicrelevanceof space . . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .70
2.1.4 The politicaldimension. Christophe Venet .. . . .. . . .. . .. .73
2.1.4.1 The end of the ColdWar and theincreasingpolitical
relevanceof space.. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .73
2.1.4.2 The increased politicalrelevance of space after the Cold War. . .. .75
2.1.4.3 The political character of space. . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .77
2.1.4.4 Expressions of the political nature of space .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .79
2.1.4.5 Conclusion:space is politically relevant . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .88
2.2 Space– a natural resource. Otto Koudelka. .. . . .. . . .. . .. .92
x