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Legal Aspects of Planetary Defence
Series: - Studies in Space Law, Volume: 17
Editor:
Winner of the 2022 International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Social Sciences Book Award
Impacts by asteroids or comets on Earth may lead to natural disasters of catastrophic dimensions, one of the most devastating having caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Space agencies and other actors are increasingly dedicated to the development of technology to predict and mitigate such risks. This book addresses legal and policy aspects of ‘planetary defence’ activities aiming at the mitigation of Near-Earth Objects (NEO) impact threats. These include responsibility and liability for damage caused by such activities (or their failure) as well as international cooperation and possible decision making processes.
Impacts by asteroids or comets on Earth may lead to natural disasters of catastrophic dimensions, one of the most devastating having caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Space agencies and other actors are increasingly dedicated to the development of technology to predict and mitigate such risks. This book addresses legal and policy aspects of ‘planetary defence’ activities aiming at the mitigation of Near-Earth Objects (NEO) impact threats. These include responsibility and liability for damage caused by such activities (or their failure) as well as international cooperation and possible decision making processes.
Irmgard Marboe is professor of international law at the University of Vienna, Austria. She has widely published on international space law and acted as expert in various functions in the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).
Foreword
Acknowledgements
List of Figures and Tables
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
List of Legal Documents
Notes on Contributors
Introduction
Irmgard Marboe
1 Near-Earth Objects – Basic Terms and Characteristics
Christian Koeberl and Cordula Steinkogler
2 What Is Planetary Defence?
Rüdiger Jehn
3 Planetary Defence Technologies
Alan Harris
4 International Cooperation in Planetary Defence – UNCOPUOS, IAWN and SMPAG
Gerhard Drolshagen, Lindley N Johnson and Romana Kofler
5 Enhancing Public Awareness
The Establishment of ‘Asteroid Day’
Frans von der Dunk
6 The United States Planetary Defence Programme
NASA and the Planetary Defense Coordination Office
Victoria P Andrews, Doris Daou, Lindley N Johnson
7 ESA’S Activities in Planetary Defence
Detlef Koschny
8 Planetary Defence Activities beyond NASA and ESA
Brent W Barbee
9 Overview of Current International Space Law in the Context of Planetary Defence
Steven Freeland
10 The 2010 Report on Legal Aspects of NEO Threat Response and Related Institutional Issues
Frans von der Dunk
11 The SMPAG Ad-hoc Working Group on Legal Issues
Line Drube
12 International Law Rules Related to the Sharing of Information about Potential NEO Threats
Irmgard Marboe
13 Rules of International Law Regarding an Obligation of States to Undertake Planetary Defence Activities
Cordula Steinkogler
14 The Use of Force and Planetary Defence
Setsuko Aoki
15 Legal Aspects of the Use of Nuclear Explosive Devices in Planetary Defence
David A Koplow
16 Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Planetary Defence
Competing Potential Disasters
Jack M Beard
17 Understanding the Social Aspects of an Asteroid Impact Threat from Socio-Anthropological Lessons Learned in Natural Disaster Management
Alissa Haddaji
18 The Current International Space Law Regime on Liability and Its Application to Planetary Defence
Alexander Soucek
19 Critical Issues and Future Perspectives on Liability in the Context of Planetary Defence
Henry Hertzfeld
20 The International Responsibility of States for Planetary Defence Activities
Sergio Marchisio
21 The Involvement of Private Actors in Planetary Defence Missions
Peter Stubbe
22 International Bodies and Procedures for Decision-Making Regarding Planetary Defence Actions
Olavo de Oliveira Bittencourt Neto
Conclusions and Considerations on the Way Forward
Irmgard Marboe
Index
Acknowledgements
List of Figures and Tables
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
List of Legal Documents
Notes on Contributors
Introduction
Irmgard Marboe
part 1: Planetary Defence and International Cooperative Efforts
1 Near-Earth Objects – Basic Terms and Characteristics
Christian Koeberl and Cordula Steinkogler
2 What Is Planetary Defence?
Rüdiger Jehn
3 Planetary Defence Technologies
Alan Harris
4 International Cooperation in Planetary Defence – UNCOPUOS, IAWN and SMPAG
Gerhard Drolshagen, Lindley N Johnson and Romana Kofler
5 Enhancing Public Awareness
The Establishment of ‘Asteroid Day’
Frans von der Dunk
6 The United States Planetary Defence Programme
NASA and the Planetary Defense Coordination Office
Victoria P Andrews, Doris Daou, Lindley N Johnson
7 ESA’S Activities in Planetary Defence
Detlef Koschny
8 Planetary Defence Activities beyond NASA and ESA
Brent W Barbee
part 2: Legal Analysis of Different Aspects of Planetary Defence
9 Overview of Current International Space Law in the Context of Planetary Defence
Steven Freeland
10 The 2010 Report on Legal Aspects of NEO Threat Response and Related Institutional Issues
Frans von der Dunk
11 The SMPAG Ad-hoc Working Group on Legal Issues
Line Drube
12 International Law Rules Related to the Sharing of Information about Potential NEO Threats
Irmgard Marboe
13 Rules of International Law Regarding an Obligation of States to Undertake Planetary Defence Activities
Cordula Steinkogler
14 The Use of Force and Planetary Defence
Setsuko Aoki
15 Legal Aspects of the Use of Nuclear Explosive Devices in Planetary Defence
David A Koplow
16 Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Planetary Defence
Competing Potential Disasters
Jack M Beard
17 Understanding the Social Aspects of an Asteroid Impact Threat from Socio-Anthropological Lessons Learned in Natural Disaster Management
Alissa Haddaji
18 The Current International Space Law Regime on Liability and Its Application to Planetary Defence
Alexander Soucek
19 Critical Issues and Future Perspectives on Liability in the Context of Planetary Defence
Henry Hertzfeld
20 The International Responsibility of States for Planetary Defence Activities
Sergio Marchisio
21 The Involvement of Private Actors in Planetary Defence Missions
Peter Stubbe
22 International Bodies and Procedures for Decision-Making Regarding Planetary Defence Actions
Olavo de Oliveira Bittencourt Neto
Conclusions and Considerations on the Way Forward
Irmgard Marboe
Index
Scientists and other experts in space science and technology, policy makers at the national and international levels, academics in international law, non-governmental organisations dedicated to space activities, civil protection organisations.