Thursday, November 25th, 2021
The three political parties most likely to form the German government have published their Agreement with references to space. These do not indicate early significant change of policy. A brief indication of such references can be seen here.
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021
11 – 13 October 2021, Online.This interactive annual course explores space policy and law to inform professionals interested in the space sector about the policy and legal principles and the latest developments affecting space activities. The topics are taught by leading experts through lectures, discussions and case studies.
The space environment and space technology
Orbits, their characteristics and management
Space policy principles, regime and institutions
The laws governing space activities; principles and sources of space law; international conventions and treaties
National laws and policies
Laws relating to specific applications including telecommunications, broadcasting, remote sensing, scientific experiment and exploration, manned activities and the ISS
Spectrum management
Peaceful use of space; responsible use and space traffic management
Military activities and arms control
Sovereignty, property rights, commercial and private activity
Risk, liability and insurance
Space security, natural hazards and debris
Current and future developments
The course is taught by a number of leading international experts. A full list of lecturers is given in the programme.
The Course is particularly appropriate for those working in the space sector who wish to learn about the current legal and policy framework and be informed of topical issues. Previous knowledge of law or policy is not required.
Policy-makers in government and international bodies
IGO, NGO and space agency personnel like space agencies
Military personnel such as RAF
Lawyers and jurists
Commercial and consulting space sector firm members
Satellite manufacturing or operation team members
Managers and team leaders of other space operations
Insurers, bankers and executives who evaluate space related risk and liability
Academics and post-graduate students in space related law, business or technology
Others involved in space related activities, decision-making or research
The course qualifies for CPD for Solicitors and for Barristers in England and Wales.
Other professionals: please contact your respective professional bodies about whether the course will qualify for CPD.
£ 1,250
No VAT is payable.
Undergraduates: please register for one of our other courses or lectures.
This is an interactive online lecture and discussion-based course and is therefore limited in size. The informtion we provide is reinforced with case studies.
There is no required reading before the course. At the conclusion of the course participants will also receive a further reading list to expand their knowledge in general or on specific topics.
At the end of the course there will be a case-study session to consolidate the lecture material. The Case Studies are handed out at the start of the course. Any questions not dealt with during the course can be submitted by email up to 20 October 2021.
Slides presented by lecturers are provided following the course.
Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Apply by completing an application form, with the following required information:
Full name
Preferred title
Employment affiliation and position
Work email address
When your application is received, we send an invoice with details of payment and cancellation, refund and other terms.
We will confirm your place on the course on receipt of payment.
For more information contact: SPLC2021@space-institute.org
Thursday, June 24th, 2021
On 15 July 2021 ISPL held an on-line Seminar to increase awareness of remote work-related Cybersecurity threats and Online Privacy risks for businesses and academia involved in the space sector. Details of the programme were:ENABLING SECURE AND SAFE REMOTE WORKING IN THE SPACE SECTOR:
CYBERSECURITY THREATS AND ONLINE PRIVACY RISKS FOR BUSINESSES AND ACADEMIA
Considering the growing reliance on remote work in the space sector, this introductory on-line Seminar aims to increase awareness of the main remote work-related Cybersecurity threats and Online Privacy risks for businesses and academia involved in the sector.
Event outline:
Introduction (3 min)
Presentation by Cybersecurity Researcher James Pavur (15 min): The main remote work-related Cybersecurity threats for organisations and individuals in the space sector from the perspective of an attacker (red team)
Presentation by Cybersecurity Engineer Helen Oswell (15 min): The main remote work-related Cybersecurity threats for organisations and individuals in the space sector from the perspective of a defender (blue team)
Presentation by Online Privacy Proponent Dr Christoph Beischl (15min): The main remote work-related Online Privacy risks for organisations and individuals in the space sector
Panel discussion and Q&A opportunity for attendees (25 min)
Closing remarks (2 min)
Moderators:
Dr Christoph Beischl, ISPL Research Fellow
Ms Sophie-Lynne Jory, FRAS, Operations Engineer, OneWeb*
Recording:
* Ms Jory participates in her personal capacity and not as representative of OneWeb
Panelist bios:
Helen Oswell: Helen is a Cybersecurity Engineer based in London, UK whose work focuses on blue team development. She has designed, built and operated Security Incident and Event Management, Threat and Vulnerability, Security Operations Centre and Secure Software Development Lifecycle systems on digital transformation projects worth >£5 million over multiple years. Her experience is in the financial, government and space sectors. She was nominated and shortlisted for the WIT Future CISO of the Year 2019 Award. Her academic background is in Electronic Engineering (M.Eng) and she completed her master’s thesis on using machine learning to predict operational defects at Durham University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science.
James Pavur: James is a DPhil student and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University’s Department of Computer Science. His research focuses on satellite cyber security and ways to secure modern space missions from emerging threats and his work on satellite broadband security has been presented at leading technical venues, such as Black Hat and IEEE S&P. Prior to attending Oxford, he studied Science, Technology and International Affairs at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. In his free time, he is an avid competitive hacker, participating in hackathons and capture-the-flag competitions.
Dr Christoph Beischl: Christoph is strong proponent of Online Privacy in the space sector and beyond. A Research Fellow at ISPL, his current Policy and Law research focuses on Space Safety and Security, incl. Cybersecurity, space terminology, and East Asian space programmes. He is also a Physics Academic Visitor at Imperial College London and a member of the International Institute of Space Law. He served as Co-Lead of the SGAC Space Law and Policy Project Group from 2016-2019. He holds a PhD from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, having examined the potential to establish an Asian Space Agency. He graduated with a Magister Artium in Political Science (Major), Law and Modern & Contemporary History (Minors) from the University of Munich, Germany.
Friday, March 19th, 2021
ISPL is delighted to announce its Space Organisational Arrangements Project to advance co-operation among states and within the space community. The Project aims to create a collection on the space organisational arrangements in space active countries to improve understanding of countries’ domestic space-related decision-making systems and to facilitate international space partnerships and collaborations.
Today we publish our initial findings on Italy, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom.
We invite contributions from colleagues at agencies, in academia, other organisations and knowledgable persons for inclusion in the collection.
Please contact us at info@space-institute.org, with “National Arrangements” in the subject line.
Sunday, January 24th, 2021
The London Institute of Space Policy and Law (ISPL) is delighted to announce the compilation of the “ISPL Dictionary of Space Terminology”.The growing importance of space and its multidisciplinary nature engages policymakers, academics, space agencies, businesses, engineers and others domestically and internationally. Clear communication among them is vital to the establishment of efficient and responsible use of outer space.
In the absence of an exhaustive, reliable reference document for space sector terms and the involved actors’ different disciplinary and cultural backgrounds, there is considerable potential for inadvertent misunderstanding or misinterpretation of terms. A comprehensive, well-researched ISPL Dictionary of Space Terminology will advance clear communication among space actors, greater international co-operation and avoidance of mission delays or failure.
The Dictionary will be an authoritative guide to current domestic and international interpretations of space terms and provide practical terminology for future use.
The first version of the Dictionary will be in English and focus on standard space policy and law terms used in the United Kingdom, China, Germany, India, Japan, the USA, the European Space Agency and the United Nations. It will be regularly updated, adding further countries and scientific, technical and other terms employed in the space sector.
ISPL’s faculty of leading experts and its extensive international network will be engaged to advance this project. We will make the Dictionary available to a broad audience.
The first edition is planned for completion in late 2021, but definitions of the most important terms will appear earlier.
Project lead: Dr Christoph Beischl
For enquiries please contact: Dictionary@space-institute.org
Thursday, October 8th, 2020
Professor Sa’id Mosteshar’s contribution to space policy and law was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday List.
He wishes to acknowledge all of those whose help and support have made this possible. “I owe this award to many colleagues both within the Institute and the wider community, who generously shared their insight and experience over the years. I must first mention the late Professor Bin Cheng, who encouraged and guided my early space law work. He was a role model in so many ways, and the fact that he entrusted me with the teaching of my first space law course was a tremendous compliment.
“My thanks go to past and present Trustees, members of the Faculty and colleagues at institutions such as ESA, UNOOSA, ESPI, IISL, the UK Space Agency, NASA, JAXA, UCL, Imperial College and many other academic institutions. Our collaborations have been rewarding and productive. My association with the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies has been immensely valuable. Within ISPL, Dr Christoph Beischl, Jean Kay and Ray Chandler have provided excellent research and administrative support.
“So many people have made my work a pleasure that it would be impossible to thank them all individually. I must mention, though, a few who have been extraordinarily supportive. Professor Kevin Madders has been a friend and a stalwart of the Institute since its inception. Professor Richard Crowther has generously shared the benefit of his deep scientific and policy expertise. He also produces excellent honey.
“Professor David Southwood has unfailingly shared his scientific knowledge and deep understanding of space institutions and has provided wise counsel. His co -Trustees Lawrie Haynes and Professor Sir Martin Sweeting bring their vast sector familiarity and governance experience to guide me and the Institute.
“I am humbled and immensely pleased by this award.”
Tuesday, July 28th, 2020
A recording of the seminar can be accessed here.
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020
As China launches its Mars mission Tianwen-1 we consider some of the objectives it hopes to achieve. The analysis is based on knowledge of Chinese policies and ambitions in space.Wednesday, April 1st, 2020
To protect our staff, colleagues and attendees we are postponing our annual practitioners’ course, usually held in October, to a date to be determined. We continue to be active on a number of projects, conducting research and writing on current topics. The results of these will be posted on this website as they become available.ISPL will also not be holding any events or arranging meetings until the safety of all involved can be assured. If we decide to hold any events on-line, they will be announced here.
We wish everyone safety and health and look forward to resuming normal activities as this becomes possible.
Saturday, February 8th, 2020
Professor Bin Cheng was a pioneer in air and space law. He was also an inspiration to generations of lawyers, many of whom have become leading experts in the field. He addressed every aspect of international space law, including issues of nationality, jurisdiction, juris action and juris faction, and posited the idea of the instant creation of customary international law. His equally important contributions to air law highlight his vision of the importance of both branches of international law.
Professor Mosteshar feels honoured to be involved in this project. He writes, “Professor Cheng was a formative influence in my thinking, and became both an academic and a personal friend. He was one of the most thoughtful and scholarly people in public international law. This edition of the JSL will, I hope, be a suitable tribute to the work of our founding Honorary President. Those who knew him were tremendously enriched by his deep knowledge, generosity and unwavering courtesy.”
In honour of Professor Bin Cheng, the Journal is also sponsoring a writing competition for young lawyers. The prize is a lifetime subscription to the JSL, and publication of the winning article in the tribute edition. Further details of the issue and the competition are on the JSL website.
Please also visit our contact page if you would like to receive information about ISPL’s upcoming events, including courses, seminars and workshops.