by Malak Trabelsi Loeb Humankind’s interest in space is not a new phenomenon. [1] It is by nature that man pursues his endeavors to explore new dawns which evolved with his evolution, despite its associated risks [2]. Historically, human space exploration was initiated by the Soviet Union with the Sputnik launch into …
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: Moon missions: exciting times coming
It is an exciting time for space enthusiasts, particularly those who aim for economic development of the Moon. The Moon is awash in new flights, plans, and missions over the next decade – and very likely, far beyond that. A recent graphic by the ESA (below) captures the significant number of missions to the Moon coming more than the institutional or traditional governmental side.
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Perspectives: Next Gen ESA: What’s the vision?
When ESA’s Director General Jan Woerner started his last 12 months at the helm of the European Space Agency end of June, he wrote a blog that witnessed a certain impatience and urgency about the future and direction of the organization.
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: German space policy: the need for a strategy and a corresponding legislation
In view of Germany's specific role in the international markets for space products and services, in which national organisations have long been active as well-positioned providers and diverse users -, consideration has been given for years to the question of whether there is a need for national space legislation that goes beyond the national implementation of UN treaties
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Share: From Safety to Security – 2020 Project Ploughshares Survey Report
In all, 102 individuals from 15 countries completed the survey. Responses point to a chasm between current and developing military and security practice, on the one side, and established safety and sustainability norms of activity in space, on the other
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: What Bedouins can teach us about Space Sustainability
Sustainability has been practiced as a precondition for survival by many indigenous groups throughout the span of history. For those of us concerned with sustainability in space—or “the ability of all humanity to continue to use outer space for peaceful purposes and socioeconomic benefit over the long term”— this ought to be a heartening reality, as we can look to these practices to help avoid “reinventing the wheel.”
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: the Space Law Games begin
Monday 10th August 2020 saw the commencement of the first event in the Space Law Games, an event focusing on a fictional rendezvous and proximity operation (RPO) for a mission extension occurring in Geostationary orbit.
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: Europe’s Space Electric Propulsion Budget
EPIC CONSORTIUM SECURING OR HAMPERING EU LEADERSHIP IN SPACE?The recent decision of the EPIC Consortium to give priority to national agency programs for incremental technologies by cutting funding for much-needed disruptive technologies in half demands an open
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: Artificial Intelligence and Space
If AI (Artificial Intelligence) is the future, then AI plus Space equals future times two. According to Kenneth’s Research, AI in Space Exploration market was valued at approximately USD 2 billion in 2018 and is anticipated to grow at a rate of more than 7.25% by 2026.
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: African States’ and International Space Treaties
by Nelly-Helen Neji Ebruka As often said, when men reached for the stars, lawyers reached for their books. After Yuri Gagarin’s historic space flight in 1957, the international community through the United Nations deemed it pertinent to agree on certain principles and rules to regulate outer space affairs. Space exploration undoubtedly brought new ideas in the development of various fields like science, medicine, media and communications, etc. and of course legal lacuna had to be filled.
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