THE REGULATORY RECOGNITION OF COMMERCIAL SPACE FLIGHTS
Keywords:
space tourism, non-astronauts, principles of outer space exploration, state claim of jurisdiction, United Nations Treaties on Outer Space, contractual partnersAbstract
The author of the research article raises legal issues regarding the regulatory challenges associated with the commercialization of outer space, with a particular focus on space tourism. The research has shown that the dilemma is related to the lack of a legal framework that would define commercial spaceflight, which creates ambiguity in the understanding of the phenomenon of space tourism and raises concerns about the regulatory way of space exploration by private companies. To solve the problem, the author employs theoretical facets of international space law for the designation of a mutual understanding between commercial interests and the principles of space exploration. The article demonstrates that the main factor that inhibits the implementation of proper legal regulation of commercial space activity is the uncertainty of limitations, including the relevant legal regime, the boundaries between space and airspace defined by international law, and the claim of states regarding the expediency of following the norms of national law.
The author' solution is the initiative for the governance of the unsettling areas through contractual arrangements. For instance, the author refers to specifics about (i) property rights management; (ii) space resources governance with the prohibition course on appropriation and commercial colonization of celestial bodies; (iii) contractual clauses on liability matters to address flight anomalies, accidents, and the safe rescue and return of space tourists. As a result, the author denotes the potential loss of international space law relevance to regulate details of commercial space flights and its relief with the aid of contract law.
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