Young Lawyers' Symposium 2020

Contribution List

34. Are ESA’s space objects protected by the prohibition on the use of force and is there a right to collective self-defence by ESA member states?

Mr Michael Friedl (University of Vienna)

Does the prohibition on the use of force apply to space objects, which are registered by international intergovernmental organisations? Art 2(4) UN Charter provides that “[a]ll Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of...

16. Challenges and Opportunities for Open Data tackling Environmental Crises

Marco Borghi (KU Leuven)

The evolving quality and quantity of Earth observation data enables an ever-increasingly profound knowledge of the climate crisis, enhancing the efficacy of mitigation strategies as well as the management of risk and natural or man-made disasters. The environmental emergency, while having severe global effects, will not affect all states equally. Poorer, less developed countries are predicted...

10. Collision avoidance in Outer Space: how could dispute resolution help to guarantee space safety?

Dr Numa ISNARD (BEHRING, Société d'Avocats)

On September 2019, the Outer Space community has seen an unprecedented event. One of the SpaceX’s Starlink constellation satellite was potentially about to collide with ESA’s Aeolus. Despite the fact that the risk was acknowledged to be very low and after the US DoD sent several warnings, SpaceX yet still refused to move its satellite. ESA eventually decided to transfer its own satellite up to...

31. Export Control Regulations Applicable to On-Orbit Servicing Operations - A Tool or an Obstacle for Space Safety?

Vinicius Aloia (University of Helsinki)

An increasing number of space activities has taken place in Earth's orbit in recent years, contributing to the increase in the amount of orbital space debris. Proposals for commercial large satellite constellations, particularly in low Earth orbit (LEO), mean that the number of satellites, both defunct and operational, will continue to rise at an accelerated pace, increasing the likelihood of...

4. Ground-based ballistic missile defences: a legal approach to constraint the use of their force in outer space during ASAT tests and warfare

Dr Miguel Yagües Palazón (PLD Space)

The anti-satellite (ASAT) missile tests carried out by China, the United States and India in 2007, 2008 and 2019 respectively shooting down own satellites with direct ascent interceptors demonstrated the intrinsic capabilities of exoatmospheric kinetic interceptors as ASAT weapons. In the case of United States and India, the genuine defensive nature of their ballistic missile defences (BMD)...

33. Health observation from space. The contribution of Space Law in promoting space activities for global health

Alessandra Matteis (Sapienza University of Rome)

Extreme weather events, environmental crises and the decrease in the available resources due to climate change pose several threats to human health. Ensuring global health care is therefore one of the main concerns of the international community. The UN General Assembly resolution 72/139 underlined the importance of developing “efficient and innovative approaches…to address the health needs of...

8. Observing Earth in A Time of Crises

Mr Stefan Pislevik

The use of outer space by state and non-state actors increases year on year as does the capability and affordability to launch satellites. The notion however, that the use of outer space is by any means a new aide in addressing climate change and environmental crises is to be dispelled. Discussion of the utility of outer-space, if any at all, must start with the acknowledgement that a...

6. Panel 1 : Use of Force, Outer Space and Cyberattacks : Taking a Dispute Resolution perspective.

Ottavio Covolo (University of Luxembourg Master in Space, Telecomunications and Media LawAlumni)

“War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means” wrote Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz in the 19th century. While methods, weaponry, rhetoric and most importantly the legal framework of warfare has changed over centuries, the recourse to belligerent activities is a recurring event throughout human civilization and is no stranger to mankind’s...

22. Space and climate change: Satellites as the ultimate tool to ensure respect for international commitments?

Jeremy Brulmans (KU Leuven - Master of Space Studies)

Besides their direct impact on scientific knowledge, space programmes are playing a key role in the fight against climate change by giving decision-makers more and more accurate and crucial information. The role of space programmes dedicated to climate change is also important, since they may provide available public data through open data policies.

For instance, the studies of the ozone...

32. The use of Earth Observation data as evidence of environmental damage : seeking the balance between efficiency and high probative value.

Robin Bouvier (Universidade NOVA de Lisboa - Space Law Research Center), Mr Philippe Carous (CybELE)

With a population of almost 8 billion, the global impact of human civilization on the environment has never been higher. Societal changes over recent decades have significantly transformed both the human environment and the relationship humans maintain with it. Scholars are notably depicting two unprecedented transformations in modern societies. The first is the dominance of the “global...

36. The way towards space traffic management: benchmarking civil aviation regulations and tools for safety

Ms Morgane Lecas (International Space University)

More and more space objects are launched into space, thus space debris is increasingly growing. Space traffic management is an urgent need recognized by all major space-faring nations. Through the forums already in place such as the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) agreements and efforts have been concluded...

18. Use of force against extra-terrestrial life

Mr Matija Rencelj (European Space Agency)

As scientists seem to be convinced about the existence of extra-terrestrial life, the question remains whether we would be able to ever come in contact with extra-terrestrial lifeforms due to the physical laws of time and space. Upcoming missions to Mars (Mars Sample Return, ExoMars) might join other existing pieces of the puzzle in understanding potential formation of extra-terrestrial life...

27. USE OF OUTER SPACE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES: Harmonization practices of Remote sensed Earth observation data and the role of soft law

Ms Maja Stanisič (Research Intern at Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law)

Remotely sensed Earth observation (EO) data is fundamental for the effectivity of environmental governance. It constitutes the technical foundation of a successful mitigation of climate change and supports the implementation and monitoring of multilateral environmental agreements.

Nicolas Peter. (2004) The use of remote sensing to support the application of multilateral environmental...