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The legal frontier
University of Sydney launches international space law
By Eleanor Campbell
The University of Sydney has introduced its first international space law course , opening the door to a range of research opportunities for scholars in the space arena .
The new postgraduate unit , which began this semester , explores the legal and ethical complexities arising from international space laws and treaties seen over the past century .
According to program lead and senior lecturer Dr Rebecca Connolly , Australia is currently positioned to play a significant role in the global space industry .
“ We are witnessing a race for space power at the moment , which raises several pressing legal and policy issues ,” Dr Connolly told Campus Review .
“ The US , Russia , China , India , the EU — everybody is developing and investing in their space capabilities and programs .
“ With that , we will see a rise in key pressing international legal policies that will need to be addressed as a global issue .”
The global space market was estimated to be worth about $ 464 billion last year and will reach over $ 737 billion in the next decade .
Rising commercial interests in space exploration has begun to test the limits of international laws and regulations , with private companies like Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos ’ s Blue Origin charging millions to fly passengers into outer space .
“ There is definitely a lot of scope for involvement for lawyers interested in space law , and people with a background in space policy , because many voices are being heard in the international arena ,” Dr Connolly said .
“ There are also significant research opportunities within and outside of the law , ranging from issues related to the sustainability of space and space technology for Earth , climate change , to issues related to space debris and clean up .”
It wasn ’ t until 2018 that Australia launched its own space agency after more than a decade of being only one of two OECD countries without its own space office .
Australia was also among the first to sign NASA ’ s Artemis Accords in 2020 , which some experts have said could significantly challenge previous norms and rules around Moon exploration .
Dr Connolly said that Sydney Law School is currently exploring collaborations with the legal profession and the Australian
We are witnessing a race for space power , which raises several pressing legal and policy issues
space industry to hold legal conferences and seminars on key issues of space law .
“ Space technology capabilities affect every aspect of our lives , and it plays such a key role in communications , financial infrastructure , sustainability issues , and national security and defence ,” she said .
“ I think those are going to be the key areas of space law that we ’ re going to focus on a global level ; on bringing that together and finding a good regulatory framework to address the new space activities .”
According to Dr Connolly , enrolment numbers in the new postgraduate unit have been “ extremely high ”.
“ More students want to be offered diverse and innovative subjects that provide pathways that might be potentially different from traditional career development .
“ The new range of students we have coming up are very aware of the broader issues our global community faces ,” she said .
“ It ’ s very encouraging and exciting .” ■
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