Professor Bin Cheng Honoured by RAeS

Monday, December 15th, 2014

The Royal Aeronautical Society has been honouring outstanding achievers in the global aerospace industry since 1909, when Wilbur and Orville Wright received the first Gold Medal. Awards have since been given to individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to aerospace, for outstanding achievements and contributions, technical innovation, leadership, long and valued service, and for work that advances the field.

It is the most prestigious and long-standing award in global aerospace honouring achievement, innovation and excellence.

This year our Honorary President Professor Bin Cheng received the Honorary Fellowship, which is the highest distinction awarded by the RAeS for outstanding contributions to the aerospace profession.

Everyone at the Institute would like to extend to Professor Bin Cheng their heartiest congratulations on adding this honour to the many well-deserved recognitions of his outstanding contributions to international law.

“Professor Cheng is admitted to Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his impact, world-class leadership and lasting contributions to the development of air law and space law and the inspiration he has provided to others in these sectors of the art and science of aeronautics and astronautics.

He is Emeritus Professor of Air and Space Law at University College London and Honorary President of the London Institute of Space Policy and Law. He is a world authority on international air and space law and played a central role in the adoption of the 1999 Montreal Convention, updating the 1929 Warsaw Convention on International Air Transport.”

He joined Mr Colin Smith of Rolls-Royce and M Jean-Paul Herteman of the Safran Group in being so honoured, at a ceremony on 11 December 2014.

RAeS has a list of previous recipients of awards and honours.

Future Space Lawyers

Thursday, November 27th, 2014

ISPL is adding information to the website on a new page for future space lawyers. The FAQs about the field, how to train and who to talk to, links to other institutions and how to get started in a career in space law and policy will be on the Students page.

Students of law, engineering and science, medicine, environmental fields, and many other disciplines are asking us about how to include space law and space policy in their educational path. Our aim is to help show the way to taking a place in the space sector.

We’ll be adding to the page as new queries come in, so please contact us if you have a specific question or an area of interest.

Rosetta Mission Landing on Comet

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

Everyone at ISPL joins in congratulating those involved in the Rosetta Mission, after the successful landing of Philae on the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko at 16.03 UTC, 12 November 2014.

Click here for a live stream of Mission activities.

This was an incredible achievement from the team, and although the lander has now gone silent, the mission has been a great success.   The image below illustrates how difficult was the task, and how amazing the results.

The Rosetta Mission.  Infographic and timeline summarising the milestones of Rosetta’s journey through the Solar System.  released 6/10/2014 4:00 pm. Copyright ESA. ID324614.

Image credit:  ESA

Student Space Law & Policy Course

Friday, September 12th, 2014

ISPL is pleased to announce its first student space law & policy course for those at university. It will take place in London on Saturday 15 November, 2014.

Our courses and seminars have enjoyed strong interest and enrolment from university students at all levels. In response, we will offer a one-day intensive series of lectures solely for students with an interest in these areas. The course will be held on Saturday to enable students to avoid missing their regular lectures and seminars.

No previous knowledge of space law & policy is required. Students in any discipline are welcome, including law, engineering and technology, government, business and commercial studies. They will receive a solid briefing in the sources of space law, an introduction to aspects of policy, and a wide range of other related material. There is no examination during the course, but there will be ample time for discussion and questions.

ISPL space policy & law courses are normally intended for high-level practitioners and civil servants. This is an excellent opportunity for those just entering their careers to learn about the current law as it applies to the increasing range of activities in space, and about the policies that underlies the legal regime.

Course Information and Enrolment Form

For more information about ISPL’s educational programmes, please see our Programs & Events pages.

Image Credit:

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, 2014. “My favorite views from #space – just past #sunrise over the ocean,” the Expedition 40 astronaut tweeted.

The Expedition 40 crew has been busy aboard the space station, recently performing health checks and humanoid robot upgrades. In the meantime, a trio of orbital residents is packing up gear as they prepare to return home in less than two weeks. Commander Steve Swanson powered down and stowed Robonaut 2 after wrapping up its mobility upgrades this week. He installed new legs on the humanoid robot including external and internal gear as well as cables. This sets the stage for more upgrades in the fall before Robonaut takes its first steps as an assistant crew member. Robonaut was designed to enhance crew productivity and safety while also aiding people on Earth with physical disabilities.

Image Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman

Space Law and Policy Course for Students – Date Change

Monday, July 7th, 2014

ISPL is pleased to announce its first space law and policy course for students, to take place on a Saturday to be confirmed in London.

The date will be posted and advertised very shortly.

Our courses and seminars have enjoyed strong interest and enrolment from university students at all levels. In response, we will offer a one-day intensive series of lectures solely for students with an interest in these areas. The course will be held on Saturday to enable students to avoid missing their regular lectures and seminars.

No previous knowledge of space law or policy is required. Students in any discipline are welcome, including law, engineering and technology, government, business and commercial studies. They will receive a solid briefing in the sources of space law, an introduction to aspects of policy, and a wide range of other related material. There is no examination during the course, but there will be ample time for discussion and questions.

ISPL space policy and law courses are normally intended for high-level practitioners and civil servants. This is an excellent opportunity for those just entering their careers to learn about the current law as it applies to the increasing range of activities in space, and about the policies that underlies the legal regime.

For more information about ISPL’s educational programmes, please see our Programs & Events pages.

Space Law and Policy Course (CPD) Completed May 2014

Tuesday, June 24th, 2014

The 2014 Space Law and Policy Course for practitioners, civil servants, academics and space sector professionals took place in London during May 2014.  A wide range of delegates participated in the lectures, discussions and case studies, resulting in a stimulating series of meetings over three days.  Comments following the course uniformly praised the content, presentation and range of material covered.  “Very rewarding and enriching!”  “I was most interested to listen to people around me with extensive expertise as well as the speakers.”  “I very much enjoyed the course and the friendly atmosphere.  Every speaker was helpful and an expert in their domain.”  “The quality of the course and information was outstanding.”

Prospectus

The Course comprised lectures and interactive case studies. Participants had access to the IALS Law Library during the course. Those considering a post-graduate degree at ISPL were able to informally discuss their interest with the Director.

The Course provided an introduction to:

• The space environment and space technology

• Orbits, their characteristics and management, and types of spacecraft

• Spectrum management

• The law governing space activities: principles & sources of space law, including conventions and treaties, national law and policies

• Comparison between space law and other legal regimes: Antarctic, maritime and air law

• Peaceful use of space, military activities & arms control

• Sovereignty

• Property rights

• Risk, liability and insurance

• The law as relates to specific applications: telecommunications and broadcasting, remote sensing, scientific experiment and exploration, manned activities including the International Space Station, unmanned activities

• Space policy and the institutions that implement them

The Course was intended for policy-makers, legal professionals, space sector executives and engineers, officials of government and international bodies, academics and post-graduate degree candidates.

The course was designed to be accessible to those in legal, technical or business training or employment. Previous knowledge of law or policy was not required. It was particularly appropriate for those working in the space sector who wished to increase their knowledge of the current legal and policy framework, in order to take full advantage of the available opportunities and to create new ones.

The Course was intended for a variety of individuals.

• Satellite manufacturing or operation team members seeking an understanding of legal issues relating to design, manufacture or provision of space products and services

• Law, business and technology post-graduate students interested in the field

• Insurers and executives who want the tools to evaluate legal aspects of risk and liability

• Managers and team leaders of space operations who wish to better understand the legal and policy issues they encounter, and to be able to plan more proactively

• IGO and space agency team members concerned with national and international issues arising from activities in space, such as earth observation, and their regulation

• Lawyers and jurists whose practice brings them into contact with space law through legal evidence from satellites, contractual matters or international commerce


Note: Undergraduates will be able to register for our short course in space law later this year.

CPD

The course qualified for 15 hours CPD for Solicitors (SRA) and for Barristers. Other professionals: please contact your respective professional bodies about whether our courses will qualify for CPD.

Space Law and Policy Course (CPD) Open for Enrolment

Tuesday, April 8th, 2014

ISPL is pleased to announce that enrolment is now open for the 2014 Space Law and Policy Course.

Prospectus

The Course will comprise lectures and interactive case studies. Participants will have access to the IALS Law Library during the course. Those considering a post-graduate degree at ISPL will also be able to informally discuss their interest with the Director.

The Course will provide an introduction to:

• The space environment and space technology

• Orbits, their characteristics and management, and types of spacecraft

• Spectrum management

• The law governing space activities: principles & sources of space law, including conventions and treaties, national law and policies

• Comparison between space law and other legal regimes: Antarctic, maritime and air law

• Peaceful use of space, military activities & arms control

• Sovereignty

• Property rights

• Risk, liability and insurance

• The law as relates to specific applications: telecommunications and broadcasting, remote sensing, scientific experiment and exploration, manned activities including the International Space Station, unmanned activities

• Space policy and the institutions that implement them



The Course will be of interest to policy-makers, legal professionals, space sector executives and engineers, officials of government and international bodies, academics and post-graduate degree candidates.

The course is designed to be accessible to those in legal, technical or business training or employment. Previous knowledge of law or policy is not required. It will be particularly appropriate for those working in the space sector who wish to increase their knowledge of the current legal and policy framework, in order to take full advantage of the available opportunities and to create new ones.

The Course will be valuable for a variety of individuals.


• Satellite manufacturing or operation team members seeking an understanding of legal issues relating to design, manufacture or provision of space products and services

• Law, business and technology post-graduate students interested in the field

• Insurers and executives who want the tools to evaluate legal aspects of risk and liability

• Managers and team leaders of space operations who wish to better understand the legal and policy issues they encounter, and to be able to plan more proactively

• IGO and space agency team members concerned with national and international issues arising from activities in space, such as earth observation, and their regulation

• Lawyers and jurists whose practice brings them into contact with space law through legal evidence from satellites, contractual matters or international commerce


Note: Undergraduates please register for our short course in space law later this year.

CPD

The course qualifies for 15 hours CPD for Solicitors (SRA) and for Barristers (to be confirmed). Other professionals: please contact your respective professional bodies about whether the course will qualify for CPD.

In Memory of Professor Vladimír Kopal

Monday, February 10th, 2014

We are sad to report that Professor Vladimír Kopal passed away on 27 January 2014 at the age of 85.

He was Professor of International Law at the West Bohemian University in Pilsen, Czech Republic, he was Chairman of the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. A brief biography can be found on the UN Office of Legal Affairs website.

Tanja Masson-Zwaan, President of IISL and ISPL Faculty member, writes, “Prof. Kopal was a co-founder and one of the pillars of the IISL, always deeply involved with our work, and also served many decades as legal counsel of our sister organisations, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

He was a pioneer of space law, and had an impressive career both in academics and in the UN, serving for many years as delegate of his country, as head of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, and twice as Chairman of the Legal Subcommittee of UNCOPUOS. 

Perhaps above all, he was an excellent teacher to students all over the world, and a true friend to many of us. 

 His death is a loss to the entire space community, and he will be missed by us all.”

 Professor Mosteshar, ISPL Director, adds, “He was one of the most courteous and interesting members of the community. His contributions to the field were many, and he always found time to speak with students and those new to the field.”

Professor Kopal’s funeral will take place on February 11th. An obituary has been posted on the IISL website. You may also send an email message to memoriam@iislweb.org. Messages will be added to an online register of condolences.

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2013

Sunday, December 15th, 2013

The winners have been announced in the Royal Observatory’s astronomy photography competition. More than 1200 photographs of stars, planets, galaxies and other celestial highlights were submitted through Sky at Night Magazine and Flickr.

The Winners

 The overall winner, and the winner of the Earth and Space category, was Mark Gee of Australia, with “Guiding Light to the Stars”.

The Deep Space category winner was Adam Block of the USA, with “Celestial Impasto: sh2-239”.

The winner of the category Our Solar System with “Corona Composite of 2012” is Man-To Hui of China.

Three special prizes are also awarded.  Mark Gee was the winner of the People and Space category, with “Moon Silhouettes”.  László Francsics of Hungary won the Robotic Scope category, with “The Trapezium Cluster and surrounding Nabulae”.  The ‘Best Newcomer’ prize, renamed this year “The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer’ in honour of this well-known broadcaster, lunar observer and former judge of the competition, is Sam Cornwell of the UK, with “Venus Transit, Foxhunter’s Grave, Welsh Highlands”.

The photographs can be seen on the Royal Observatory website.

Exhibition, Book and App

An exhibition of the photographs runs until 23 February 2014, and a hardback book is available, with the shortlisted and winning entries.  There is also an app for iPhone and iPad, with 90 images and technical information about them. 

Image information:

Cloud Towers above is not one of the exhibition images.  It is a NASA image.

In a view from high altitude, height can be a difficult thing to gauge. The highest of clouds can appear to sit on a flat plane, as if they were at the same elevation as the ocean or land surface. In this image, however, texture, shape and shadows lend definition to mushrooming thunderheads over the Indonesian island of Flores. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this image on the afternoon of Dec. 2, 2013.

The towering clouds are so well defined that it is easy to visualize the rapidly rising air that is fueling them. “This looks like a classic example of island convection that is enhanced by topography,” says NASA scientist Joseph Munchak.

During the day, sunlight heats the land more quickly than it heats the ocean. The warm air over land rises, creating an area of low pressure that pulls in cool air from the ocean. The result is a sea breeze. On this Indonesia island, the sea breeze from the Flores Sea on the north blows inland and clashes with the sea breeze blowing inland from the Savu Sea in the south. When the two breezes meet in the center of Flores, they push the air up. The rising air cools and condenses into a line of clouds.

Sea breeze convection is not the only force at work here. On Flores, cloud formation has help from the shape of the land. A line of tall volcanoes runs down the spine of the island, and their steep slopes also force air to rise. So, moist ocean air blows inland, hits the mountains and volcanoes and rises with the slope. Above the mountains, the rising air meets the rising sea breeze from the other side, and the upward motion is reinforced.

The combination of the two forces pushes air high into the atmosphere, resulting in large towering clouds of the sort that usually produce thunderstorms. In fact, a weather station on Flores reported rain and thunderstorms on December 2. This type of convection is strongest in the early afternoon, says Munchak, just about the time when Aqua MODIS acquired the image. The clouds were just beginning to form when Terra MODIS passed over earlier in the day.

> Read more

Image Credit: NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Caption: Holli Riebeek

Space Situational Awareness Presentations

Friday, November 29th, 2013

ISPL Advisor Professor Richard Crowther spoke at a recent conference on space situational awareness, along with Professor Sa’id Mosteshar, ISPL’s Director. The conference took place on 13 and 14 November 2013.

The conference, Space Situational Awareness 2013, addressed political and technical issues, with speakers including experts from across Europe and the USA.  The program aimed to facilitate discussion and debate about the business, political and technical challenges of SSA.  It also aimed to inform about SSA in advance of the scheduled meeting of European heads of state in December to review their common security and defence position.

Sa’id addressed Legal Issues Critical to SSA.  His presentation and the written version may be viewed in our Research & Publications archive.

Richard addressed the conference on Outlining The Best Practice Initiatives Being Delivered With Space Situational Awareness. He will also participate in a panel: Given Recent Developments In The World Of Space Situational Awareness – Where Are We Now?  Exploring Current And Global SSA Capabilities And Programmes, as well as a session of round-table discussions.  Richard is Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency. 

For some background on SSA, ESA’s SSA program, and the EU proposals for a new space policy, see our earlier news item.