AAE590 Space Law Lab

 

Fall 2024

 

Tuesdays 13:30-15:20

 

1-credit

 

Prof. Karen Marais, Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

 

Prof. Mark D. Janis, Indiana University Bloomington Maurer School of Law

 

Space exploration is fueling a new industrial revolution. Globally, commercial space is a $500 billion business, with projections of double-digit growth in the years ahead. Some seventy countries have active space programs. In the U.S., public investment in the space program has topped $50 billion in recent years, and the emergence of robust public/private partnerships has

catalyzed new ambitions for U.S.-led spaceflight operations beyond low Earth orbit. Other major economies have similar aspirations.

 

This rising wave of activity presents a wealth of legal issues. Some are unique to spaceflight (for example, legal restrictions on launch activities), while others are challenging but familiar issues

that have arisen whenever man has explored new frontiers (such as claims to ownership of lunar subsurface resources). In this seminar, we will analyze the foundational legal instruments on

international space law, such as the Outer Space Treaty; we will study newer attempts to establish legal principles for the coming age of lunar exploration—particularly, the Artemis Accords; and we will survey U.S. domestic law applicable to commercial launch activities, as well as the application of various U.S. legal regimes to space activities (such as intellectual property law, for example).

 

In this seminar we will meet to discuss relevant materials, and students will write a seminar paper on a space law topic. We also may have the opportunity to host guest speakers involved in the practice of space law.

 

This seminar will be offered in coordination with a graduate course in Space Law and Policy led by faculty of the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University Bloomington. IU faculty and students will provide instruction in the fundamentals of space law. Purdue students will provide instruction in the fundamentals of space engineering and will be available to consult with Maurer students to support research and development of seminar papers.

 

No prior background in the subject matter is expected. Students interested in international law, corporate law, intellectual property law, cybersecurity law, or the law/technology interface generally may find the seminar of interest.