4th Eilene M. Galloway Symposium on Critical Issues in Space Law: Peaceful Purposes and Uses of Outer Space – Panel 3

December 10, 2009 at 9:58 pm | Posted in Blogcast, Space Law Current Events | Leave a comment

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The final panel of the day was Peaceful Purposes and Uses: Lessons Learned and Moving Forward and included:

Response of the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to the Issue of Near Earth Objects, and in Particular the Outcome of the Association of Space Explorers Expert Panel of Asteroid Threat Mitigation
-Prof. Richard Crowther, Chair, UN Working Group on Near Earth Objects

Ensuring Open Territorial Rights: Geopolitics and Experience in Antarctica and Outer Space
-Dr. Roger Launius, Senior Curator, Division of Space History National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Peaceful Purposes and Chinese Law
-Prof. Haifeng Zhao Dean, School of Law, Professor of Law, Harbin Institute of Technology

Crowther’s presentation discussed the UNCOPUOS’ response to the threat of Near Earth objects to the Earth. He stated that NEOs presented a unique problem in that they could be globally catastrophic, but that unlike other natural disasters they are predictable and there is an opportunity to intervene. He said that the Association of Space Explorers Expert panel produced a report that became a conference room paper in UNCOPUOS, which was currently being considered by the group. The next presentation, by Launius, gave a historical perspective on the Antarctic and Outer Space and the legal regimes that developed around them. He stated that these regimes were unique products of the Cold War, but that the regimes were becoming more fragile in the post-Cold War environment. He said that there was a genuine question as to what would happen if something of value were discovered in either of the areas. the final presentation of the day was made by Haifeng Zhao. He presented on China’s views and interpretations of the concept of peaceful purposes. He stated that China, as a country, put a high priority on peace in general and on the peaceful purposes and uses of outer space. He also stated that China strongly supported measures to prevent the weaponization of outer space, and that a common international view was needed in preserving space for outer space.