“Introduction to Space Law Training Course” now open for applications

The development of space law began with the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957. Following initial discussions between the US and Russia, the United Nations created the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space which contains a legal subcommittee. The Outer Space Treaty, which forms the basis of all space law, entered into force in October 1967, two years before NASA landed astronauts on the Moon.

Today’s rich body of space law means that space scientists and engineers will likely encounter legal issues in their daily work – from licenses to liability, from insurance to environmental protection.

The ESA Education Office has teamed up with ESA’s Legal Services Department to offer a five-day “Introduction to Space Law Training Course”. Taking place between 29 May and 2 June at the ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Centre located at the ESA Redu Centre in Belgium, the course is open to university students of all levels with an engineering or scientific background.

During this week-long course, students will be taught by world-class experts in space law. They will discover that:

• An international legal framework governs space activities from the beginning of a mission to its very end.
• National space laws play an important role in the development of space missions and, more broadly, in the development of the space sector in a country.

With these issues in mind, the students will come to appreciate that a space mission is an interdisciplinary endeavour spanning topics beyond science and technology, to include national and international policy, funding, and law.

At the end of the week, students will have the chance to apply their new knowledge by undertaking a mini-project.

Preliminary schedule:

Day 1:
• Space Law at a Glance
• Basic Introduction to the Core Principles and Concepts of International Law
• Overview of Comparative Fields of International Law
• UN Space Treaties and other Legal Instruments – General Overview

Day 2: 
• General Overview of National Space Law
• Anatomy of a National Space Law and Licensing
• Introduction to Institutions: European Space Agency, UNCOPUOS and UNOOSA, ITU, IADC, ECSS & ISO

Day 3:
• Legal Lifecycle (I): Contracting Practices
• Legal Lifecycle (II): Licensing, Mission Authorisation & Supervision
• Legal Lifecycle (III) Technology Transfer & Export Control
• Legal Lifecycle (IV): Insurance, Launch & Early Orbit Phase
• Spectrum Management & Frequency Allocation
• Exercise: From CubeSats to Mega-Constellations
• Planetary Defence & Asteroid Mining
• Space Tourism & Suborbital Flights

Day 4: 
• Legal Lifecycle (V): Operations & In-Orbit Transfer of Ownership
• Legal Lifecycle (VI):  On-Orbit Servicing
• Legal Lifecycle (VII): Operations in GEO
• Legal Lifecycle (VIII): End-of-Life and Re-entry
• SDM Guidelines in Practice
• Sustainability of Space Activities
• Navigation
• Remote Sensing and Disaster Management

Day 5:   
• Security of Space Assets
• Safety of Space Operations
• Mini-project

Who can apply?

Students enrolled in university who fulfill the following criteria at the time of the application may be eligible:

• be aged between 18 and 32;
• be a citizen of an ESA Member or Associate State*;
• be enrolled as a full-time student in a university studying an engineering or a scientific subject.

The deadline for application is: 10 April 2017

The selected students will be sponsored by ESA. The sponsorship will cover accommodation and meals as well as up to 200 euros for travelling to Redu, Belgium.

How to apply?

• Fill in the application 
• Upload a motivation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, no images);
• Upload a CV (PDF, maximum 2 pages);
• Upload a formal recommendation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, including signature no images) from a university professor or an academic supervisor;
• Upload an official copy of academic records (PDF, possibly with the University stamp).
• For more information, please contact esa.academy @ esa.int