Inspired by the vision of the future of humankind in outer space, an international team of technical experts, lawyers and political scientists examined topical issues of law and policy under the leadership of the editors – not only with respect to international space flight and space exploration, but also in view of the safe and sustainable use of space technology for the benefit of our planet. After all, our original habitat should not be sacrificed on our way to Moon and Mars!

In this regard, Outer Space – Future for Humankind examines fundamental questions like the problem of space debris, the safe use of nuclear power sources in outer space, the protection of the ozone layer during space launches, the issue of light pollution and the protection of the marine environment during the guided re-entry of space craft into the High Seas. In addition to these problems of technical nature, questions relating to the peaceful, equitable and responsible use of outer space are explored also with regard to issues as space traffic management which must be solved by scientists, lawyers and politicians on an international scale, and supported by an again increasingly interested general public.

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Inhoudsopgave:

Introduction; Part I Looking Ahead; 1 Outer Space and Science Fiction (Gary L. Bennett); 2 Space Tourism: Reality Soon? (Marietta Benkö & Gabriele Röhn); 3 New Space and Newest Space (Dmitry Payson); 4 Space Colonies: Is History Repeating? (Jean-François Mayence); 5 Extra-Terrestrial Human Bases at the Crossroads of Economic and Space Law (Philippe Clerc); 6 Perspectives for Outer Space as a ‘Global Common’ (Kai-Uwe Schrogl); Part II Conflicts and Challenges; 7 International Challenges to the Safety, Security and Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (Gerard Brachet & Peter Martinez); 8 Electronic and Cyber Warfare in Outer Space: Challenges in Governance (Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan); 9 Arms Control in Outer Space: Solving the Impasse – The ‘Göttingen Treaty’ Proposal Revisited (Jürgen Scheffran); 10 Space Traffic Management – Looking at the Operational Realities of a Wicked Problem (Marc Becker); 11 Space Debris: Technical Aspects (Carsten Wiedemann, Andre Horstmann, Lorenz Böttcher, Kerstin Soggeberg, Eduard Gamper, Jürgen Lorenz, Manuel Schubert & Enrico Stoll); 12 Oceanic Dumping of Space Objects and the Conservation of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (Vito De Lucia); 13 Commercial Space Launches and Depletion of the Ozone Layer: Emergent Issues (Ruwantissa Abeyratne); 14 Satellite Constellations and Orbital Pollution – Need for New Policies and Regulations (Ram S. Jakhu, Joseph N. Pelton & Nishith Mishra); 15 Dream of the Stars – The Benefits of Nuclear Power and Propulsion (Gary L. Bennett); 16 Nuclear Technologies in Future Space Exploration and Questions of Environmental Law (Ulrike M. Bohlmann & Matija RenČelj); 17 NewSpace and National Space Legislation (Ingo Baumann & Erik Pellander); 18 State Responsibility Facing the Growing Diversity of Space Projects and Actors – The Case of Satellite Deployment from an International Space Station (Setsuko Aoki); Part III George Robinson the Inspirer; 19About George S. Robinson (1937-2018) (Stephen E. Doyle); 20 Cybernetics – Space Law and Cyberlaw as Tools for Mediating Interspecies Communication with Technological Transhumans and Posthumans (George S. Robinson & P.J. Blount); About the Authors and Editors