Cybersecurity & Online Privacy

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:

National Organisational Arrangements

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.

ISPL Dictionary of Space Terminology

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

ISPL Director Awarded CBE

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.”

India: New Space Policy

Tuesday, July 28th, 2020

On-line seminar on 28 July 2020 explained changes to Indian space policy “aimed at boosting private sector participation in the entire range of space activities.”  Experts discussed Indian engagement with space to provide context for the recent developments followed by analysis of changes in policy and their political and legal implications as well as evaluation from the private sector perspective.  It was attended by about eighty participants from across the world, including Angola, Australia, India, Japan and the UK.

A recording of the seminar can be accessed here.

Tianwen-1: China’s Objectives

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.

Space Policy and Law Course 2020 and ISPL Events

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.

Tribute to Bin Cheng

Saturday, February 8th, 2020

The Journal of Space Law is dedicating a special issue reflecting on the legacy of Professor Bin Cheng.  The publication honours his tremendous contributions to the field. The Director of ISPL, Professor Sa’id Mosteshar, will guest edit the edition.  Leading space lawyers and policy experts will write about the future course of space policy and law.  They will reflect on his views and his many publications, through the lens of their own considerable expertise.

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.

Professor Bin Cheng (1921-2019)

Tuesday, November 12th, 2019

It is with great sadness that ISPL reports the death of its great friend and Honorary President, Professor Bin Cheng, the most long-standing and distinguished academic in public international law.  He died of natural causes in London on Wednesday 16 October 2019 at the age of ninety-eight.

Bin was a world authority on international air and space law. His many publications in public international law and its application to space activities are some of the most important writings on the subject and will be a benchmark source of reference for many years to come.  His advocacy of the civilising benefits of international law, his teaching at UCL, as Professor and Dean of the Law School, and universities around the world inspired his own and succeeding generations of academics and lawyers.  In retirement Bin continued his invaluable contribution to the field as Emeritus Professor, and speaker at international fora.

His numerous honours and his post-retirement contributions to the development of international law evidence his valued pioneering, insightful thinking in a lifetime devoted to creating a new branch of international law.

Bin’s many accomplishments are matched only by his modesty and willingness to assist and encourage young lawyers and others.  He was unfailingly modest, charming, courteous and gentle in all his dealings and was also great fun to be with. 

It has been a great privilege for us to know Bin for about 40 years.  One always felt rewarded when, attempting an observation on a point of law, he replied with a trademark wink of his eye, “That’s right because, you know,…”  at which point, with disarming charm and wit, his fuller understanding of the point came through.

In 2008 he honoured ISPL by accepting the honorary presidency of the London Institute of Space Policy and Law.  Bin’s invaluable advice and encouragement have been central to the progress of the Institute.

Bin is survived by his wife Katharine and their family, to whom we extend our condolences.  We shall all miss him greatly.

ISPL on CGTN

Monday, November 11th, 2019

ISPL Research Fellow, Dr Christoph Beischl took part in China Global Television Network’s programme The Agenda, discussing the regulation of the space commercial market and international co-operation in space, on Sunday 10 November 2019.  Other guests included Prof Anu Ojha, Sarah Cruddas and Mitch Hunter-Scallion.