Australian Space Law News Notes

2013 FEB 20-21 - FORUM ON SPACE MINING INCLUDES SPACE LAW

An 'Off-Earth Mining Forum' held by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) includes a section on the legal implications of space mining. For more details see OEMF.

2012 - BOOK ON LAW OF SPACE MINING PUBLISHED

An Australian Lawyer, Dr Ricky Lee early this year published a book entitled "Law and Regulation of Commercial Mining of Minerals in Outer Space". This is an outgrowth of the studies he did for his PhD granted in 2010 at Murdoch University.

2010 SEP 09 - MURDOCH GRADUATES PHD IN SPACE LAW

Ricky Jose Lee was awarded a PhD in space law from Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. His thesis was entitled "Creating a practical legal framework for the commercial exploitation of mineral resources in outer space". 'The thesis examined the current technical and economic developments in relation to the possible commercial mining of asteroids and then, on the basis of existing international law, considered the legal developments necessary to creae an international regulatory framework.' Dr Lee's supervisor was Dr Vernon Nase, Faculty of Law and Business.

2010 - AUSTRALIAN APPOINTED TO IISL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Professor Steven Freeland, of the University of Western Sydney, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Space Law. Biographical details are available at IISL biographies.

2009 Oct 15 - AUSTRALIAN WRITES SPACE MOOT PROBLEM

Ricky J Lee wrote this year's Lachs Space Moot problem. It was titled "Case Concerning the Deployment and Use of Force in Low Earth Orbit (Fornjot v. Telesto)". The competition was won by India. Details can be downloaded at 2009 Space Moot.

2008 Oct 2 - AUSTRALIA WINS SPACE MOOT

A team of three students from the University of New South Wales has won the 17th Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competition held by the Internationl Institute of Space Law in Glasgow, Scotland. The three students were Madelaine Ellicott, Tamara Phillips and Katrina Taylor. The were coached by Mr Pouyan Afshar. This is the first time Australia has won the competition. For more details see 2008 Space Moot.

2007 Aug 24 - 2008 SPACE MOOT PROBLEM RELEASED

The International Institute of Space Law (of the International Astronautics Federation) has just released the 2008 problem for the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. This is an annual competition for law students to give them court experience of space law problems. Space Moot.

2001 Jun - SPACE LICENSING AND SAFETY OFFICE CREATED

The Australian Government created the Space Licensing and Safety Office to implement legislation made in the Australian Space Activities Act 1998 (and later the Space Activities Amendment Bill 2002). For details see SLASO.