March 18, 2016
SPACE LAW COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the Space Law Committee Newsletter. Please feel free to contact us with any
questions, comments, or contributions. We highly encourage attorneys, law students, and industry
professionals to submit space law-related stories of interest.
Sincerely, The Space Law Committee
Maria-Vittoria “Giugi” Carminati
Chair, ABA SciTech Space Law Committee
Carminati Law PLLC
(281) 826-9552
[email protected]
John Ratnaswamy
Newsletter Editor in Chief, ABA SciTech
Space Law Committee
Rooney Rippie & Ratnaswamy LLP
(312) 447-2850
[email protected]
Stephanie Edwards
Member of Newsletter Editorial Board, ABA
SciTech Space Law Committee
[email protected]
Rebekah Rounds
Member of Newsletter Editorial Board,
ABA SciTech Space Law Committee
GANTECH
[email protected]
Nathan Johnson
Co-Vice Chair, ABA SciTech Space Law
Committee
JD, GW Law 2014; LLM, Nebraska Law 2015
(202) 713-5498
[email protected]
Mat Trachok
Co-Vice Chair, ABA SciTech Space Law
Committee
WilmerHale
(775) 338-6241
[email protected]
Corey Harbison
Member of Newsletter Editorial Board, ABA
SciTech Space Law Committee
[email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS – SPACE LAW ........................................................ 1 NEWS UPDATES ............................................................................................................................. 1 The Rules: Regulatory & Legislative Policy and Developments .................................................... 1 The Science: Intellectual Property & Innovations .......................................................................... 4 The Business I: Contracts, M&A, Joint Ventures, and Corporate News ........................................ 6 The Business II: Economics of Space Exploration ........................................................................ 6 The Fights: Lawsuits, Settlements, and Investigations .................................................................. 8 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................................ 9 UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS – SPACE (NOT PRIMARY SPACE LAW FOCUS) . 9 PHOTO............................................................................................................................................ 12 i
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND
EVENTS – SPACE LAW
10th Annual Nebraska-Lincoln Space and Cyber Law Conference
Lincoln, Nebraska
April 6, 2016
http://law.unl.edu/annual-conferences/
4th Manfred Lachs International Conference
McGill University Institute of Air and Space Law
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
May 27-28, 2016
https://www.mcgill.ca/iasl/channels/news/call-papers-conflicts-space-and-rule-law-257235
International Bar Association
Annual Conference [Expected to include some space law programming]
Washington, DC
September 18-23, 2016
http://www.ibanet.org/Conferences/Washington2016.aspx
NEWS UPDATES
Please note that the Space Law Committee has not independently verified and cannot
warrant the information stated in materials found via the following links.
The Rules: Regulatory & Legislative Policy and Developments
March 17, 2016
Bridenstine Urges Appropriators to Increase Budget for FAA Space Office
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/bridenstine-urges-appropriators-to-increase-budget-forfaa-space-office
March 17, 2016
House Authorizers Join Pro-NASA Chorus on Hill
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/house-authorizers-join-pro-nasa-chorus-on-hill
March 15, 2016
Space travel rules needed within 5 years: UN
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Space_travel_rules_needed_within_5_years_UN_999.html
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March 15, 2016
First Indian space law being vetted by military
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/531672/first-indian-space-law-being.html
March 14, 2016
Military ‘invisibility cloaks’ could breach Geneva Conventions
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/14/military-invisibility-cloaks-stealth-could-breachgeneva-conventions
March 14, 2016
UAE to finalise space laws soon
http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/uae-to-finalise-space-laws-soon
March 14, 2016
Senators Criticize Funding ‘Gimmicks’ in NASA’s $19 Billion Budget Request
http://www.space.com/32234-senators-criticize-nasa-budgetrequest.html?cmpid=514648_20160315_59324916&adbid=709529660300726272&adbpl=tw&adb
pr=15431856
March 13, 2016
What's Happening in Space Policy March 14-18, 2016
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-happening-in-space-policy-march-14-18-2016
March 11, 2016
Senators criticize funding “gimmicks” in NASA’s $19 billion budget request
http://spacenews.com/senators-criticize-funding-gimmicks-in-nasas-19-billion-budget-request/
March 8, 2016
Why SpaceX Will Be at the Center of the NASA [Budget] Hearings This Week
http://dcinno.streetwise.co/2016/03/08/spacex-elon-musk-nasa-budget-hearings-congress/
March 7, 2016
Space Industry Coalition Presents White Paper to Political Candidates
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/space-industry-coalition-presents-white-paper-to-politicalcandidates?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Spacepolicyo
nline+%28SpacePolicyOnline+News%29
March 4, 2016
Organizations offer space policy white paper to U.S. presidential candidates
http://spacenews.com/organizations-offer-space-policy-white-paper-to-presidential-candidates/
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March 3, 2016
McCain, James Trade Barbs Over RD-180 Engines
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/mccain-james-trade-barbs-over-rd-180-engines
March 2, 2016
Space law needs an overhaul before space mining can become a reality
http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/space/space-law-needs-an-overhaul-before-asteroidmining-can-become-a-reality/news-story/039a3e275bfb9fab6c8467be90689443
February 29, 2016
Witnesses Support Goal of NASA Restructuring Legislation, But Not Specifics
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/witnesses-support-goal-of-nasa-restructuring-legislationbut-notspecifics?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Spacepolicyonli
ne+%28SpacePolicyOnline+News%29
February 28, 2016
Space Mining Race Heats Up, But Whose Asteroid Is It Anyway?
http://www.reuters.com/article/space-mining-ahome-idUSL8N16537E
February 26, 2016
If Elon Musk and Richard Branson started a space war, who would stop them?
https://www.inverse.com/article/12109-if-elon-musk-and-richard-branson-started-a-space-war-whowould-stop-them
February 24, 2016
Luxembourg keen to be asteroid miners‘ haven
https://euobserver.com/science/132427
February 24, 2016
Australia’s space law review comes with high hopes for the future
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/australias-space-law-review-comes-with-highhopes-for-future-20160223-gn1u5f.html
February 16, 2016
Should NASA focus more on space exploration or climate change?
http://ww2.kqed.org/education/2016/02/16/should-nasa-focus-on-space-exploration-or-climatechange/
February 6, 2016
Asteroid Mining Could be Space’s New Frontier: The Problem is Doing it Legally
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/06/asteroid-mining-space-minerals-legal-issues
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February 3, 2016
The Economic Problem with Luxembourg’s Space Mining Law
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/02/03/the-economic-problem-with-luxembourgsspace-mining-law/#33077b2e63eb
February 3, 2016
Luxembourg Wants to Be a Global Leader in Asteroid Mining
http://gizmodo.com/luxembourg-wants-to-be-a-world-leader-in-asteroid-minin-1756860361
February 3, 2016
Luxembourg to Support Space Mining
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35482427
The Science: Intellectual Property & Innovations
March 17, 2016
Pluto’s ‘Unprecedented’ Ice Provinces and Other Surprises from NASA’s New Horizons
http://www.space.com/32301-pluto-surprising-discoveries-new-horizons.html
March 14, 2016
ESA’s ExoMars TGO Soars Toward Mars with Help from Russia instead of NASA
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/esas-exomars-tgo-soars-toward-mars-with-help-fromrussia-instead-of-nasa
March 10, 2016
SpaceX says reusable stage could cut prices 30 percent, plans November Falcon Heavy
Debut
http://spacenews.com/spacex-says-reusable-stage-could-cut-prices-by-30-plans-first-falcon-heavyin-november/
March 10, 2016
FCC Chairman issues sharp warning to satellite industry
http://spacenews.com/fcc-chairman-issues-sharp-warning-to-the-satellite-industry/
March 10, 2016
AAS Panel Explores How to Reach Consensus on Future Human Spaceflight
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/aas-panel-explores-how-to-reach-consensus-on-futurehumanspaceflight?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Spacepolicyo
nline+%28SpacePolicyOnline+News%29
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March 9, 2016
Google’s Skybox Imaging has new name, business model
http://spacenews.com/googles-skybox-imaging-has-new-name-business-model/
March 8, 2016
Pentagon: Narrowband? Wideband? Just call them communications satellites
http://spacenews.com/pentagon-narrowband-wideband-just-call-them-communications-satellites/
March 7, 2016
Asteroid Redirect Mission Delayed One Year
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/Default.aspx?PageID=9935538&A=WebApp&CCID=18218&Pa
ge=2&Items=10
March 6, 2016
Hughes shines in latest FCC report on promised vs delivered download speeds
http://spacenews.com/hughes-shines-in-latest-fcc-report-on-promised-vs-delivered-downloadspeeds/
March 3, 2016
China working on massive rocket to take astronauts to the Moon
http://gbtimes.com/china/china-working-massive-rocket-take-astronauts-moon
February 29, 2016
Logistics Rule on Tiangong 2
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Logistics_Rule_on_Tiangong_2_999.html
February 20, 2016
Virgin Galactic Rolls Out New SpaceShip Two
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/virgin-galactic-rolls-out-new-spaceshiptwo
February 19, 2016
Virgin Galactic Introducing New Version of Space Tourism Rocket Plane For Its Return To
Testing
http://www.cantechletter.com/2016/03/why-asteroid-mining-will-be-far-more-challenging-than-mostthink/
January 22, 2016
Blue Origin Reuses Reusable Rocket
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/blue-origin-reuses-reusable-rocket
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The Business I: Contracts, M&A, Joint Ventures, and Corporate News
March 27, 2016
NASA Turns to Small Businesses for Advances in Space Travel
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/272640?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=Sharebar&utm_ca
mpaign=Sumome_share
March 16, 2016
ULA chief disavows his head engineer’s take on Vulcan engine competition
http://spacenews.com/ula-chief-disavows-his-head-engineers-take-on-vulcan-engine-competition/
March 10, 2016
GAO: "DOD Is At A Crossroads for Space"
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/gao-dod-is-at-a-crossroads-forspace?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Spacepolicyonline
+%28SpacePolicyOnline+News%29
February 29, 2016
ULA Wins Big with Two AF Propulsion Contracts, One with Blue Origin, One with Aerojet
Rocketdyne
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/ula-wins-big-with-two-af-propulsion-contracts-one-withblue-origin-one-with-aerojet-rocketdyne
February 22, 2016
Start-Up Space Report Shows More Venture Capital Invested in 2015 Than in Prior 15 Years
Combined
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/02/22/startup-space-report-shows-venture-capital-invested2015-prior-15-years-combined/
The Business II: Economics of Space Exploration
March 16, 2016
ULA intends to lower its costs, and raise its cool, to compete with SpaceX
http://spacenews.com/ula-intends-to-lower-its-costs-and-raise-its-cool-to-compete-with-spacex/
March 14, 2016
The shifting commercial launch landscape
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2943/1#.Vuc7_m0q-l4.twitter
March 11, 2016
Affordable Space Tourism “In 10 Years,” Predicts NASA Astronaut
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/affordable-space-tourism-in-10-years/
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March 10, 2016
ULA’s parent companies still support Vulcan … with caution
http://spacenews.com/ulas-parent-companies-still-support-vulcan-with-caution/
March 10, 2016
SpaceX says reusable stage could cut prices 30 percent, plans November Falcon Heavy
Debut
http://spacenews.com/spacex-says-reusable-stage-could-cut-prices-by-30-plans-first-falcon-heavyin-november/
March 9, 2016
Why Asteroid Mining Will be Far More Challenging Than Most Think
http://www.cantechletter.com/2016/03/why-asteroid-mining-will-be-far-more-challenging-than-mostthink/
March 8, 2016
Jeff Bezos Lifts Curtain on Blue Origin Rocket Factory, Lays Out Grand Plan for Space
Travel that Spans Hundreds of Years
http://www.geekwire.com/2016/jeff-bezos-lifts-curtain-blue-origin-rocket-factory-vision-space/
February 24, 2016
Robots Should Do Space Mining, Not Humans, Say Aussie Researchers
http://www.ibtimes.com.au/robots-should-do-space-mining-not-humans-say-aussie-researchers1505905
February 23, 2016
We should work together in the race to mine the solar system
https://theconversation.com/we-should-work-together-in-the-race-to-mine-the-solar-system-55026
February 20, 2016
What You Need To Know About The Space Tourism Industry
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/16/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-space-tourism-industry
February 20, 2016
Why Canada Risks Losing Out on Minerals in Space
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/why-canada-risks-losing-outon-minerals-in-space/article28818408/
February 15, 2016
Expert Debate: Should There Be a Space Race to Mine Asteroids?
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35482427
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February 8, 2016
Gerstenmaier: LEO Commercialization Requires Space Industry to Be Innovative, Nimble
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/gerstenmaier-leo-commercialization-requires-spaceindustry-to-be-innovative-nimble
The Fights: Lawsuits, Settlements, and Investigations
March 17, 2016
McCain Calls for DOD Investigation Into Statements by ULA Executive
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/mccain-calls-for-dod-investigation-into-statements-by-ulaexecutive
March 8, 2016
Attorney for “Drone Slayer” Says Federal Lawsuit Should Be Dismissed
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/03/attorney-for-drone-slayer-says-federal-lawsuit-shouldbe-dismissed/
February 1, 2016
NASA Threatened with Lawsuit for Censoring ‘Jesus’ in Christian Club Announcements.
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/02/12/nasa-threatened-with-lawsuit-for-censoring-jesus-inchristian-club-announcements/
January 18, 2016
“Drone Slayer” Suit Could Set US Law
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2016/01/14/suit-over-shot-down-drone-could-setus-law/78651710/
January 15, 2016
Update on Virgin Galactic-Firefly Litigation
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/01/15/update-virgin-galacticfirefly-litigation/
January 12, 2016
Former Propulsion Chief Accuses Virgin Galactic of Lying About SpaceShip Two’s Safety
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/01/12/propulsion-chief-accuses-virgin-galactic-lyingspaceshiptwos-safety-performance/
January 12, 2016
Who Owns Space Shuttle Atlantis? Trademark Issue Cited in Lawsuit
http://news.yahoo.com/owns-space-shuttle-atlantis-trademark-cited-lawsuit-122928964.html
January 8, 2016
Space Shuttle Atlantis: Legal filing cites service mark for NASA spacecraft
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-010816a-space-shuttle-atlantis-trademark.html
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Miscellaneous
March 18, 2016
North Korea launches ballistic missiles
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/17/asia/north-korea-missile-launch/index.html
February 25, 2016
Scott Kelly’s Year in Space
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/02/25/science/scott-kelly-astronaut-year-in-spacenumbers.html?_r=0
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS –
SPACE (NOT PRIMARY SPACE LAW FOCUS)
Space Innovation Congress
London, England
April 7-8, 2016
http://www.spaceagenda.com/events/detail/2016-04-07_space-innovation-congress
Space Access ‘16 Conference
Phoenix, Arizona
April 7-9, 2016
http://space-access.org/updates/sa16info.html
The Space Foundation
32nd Space Symposium
Colorado Springs, CO
April 11-14, 2016
http://www.spacesymposium.org/
Space 2.0
Silicon Valley, CA
April 26-28, 2016
http://www.space-2-0.com/
Space Forum 2016
European Convention Center, Luxembourg
May 10-11, 2016
http://www.spaceforum.eu/
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Astro 2016
17th Astronautics Conference of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
May 17-19, 2016
http://www.casi.ca/astro
35th Annual International Space Development Conference
National Space Society
San Juan, Puerto Rico
May 18-22, 2016
http://isdc.nss.org/2016/
Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference
Broomfield, CO
June 2-4, 2016
http://nsrc.swri.org/
National Space and Missile Materials Symposium; and Commercial and Government Responsive
Access to Space Technology Exchange
Westminster, CO
June 20-23, 2016
http://www.usasymposium.com/space/registration.htm
Space Frontier Foundation
NewSpace Conference
Seattle, WA
June 21-23, 2016
https://newspace.spacefrontier.org/
Toulouse Space Show 2016
Toulouse, France
June 28-30, 2016
http://www.toulousespaceshow.eu/tss16/
ISS R&D Conference
San Diego, CA
July 12-14, 2016
http://www.issconference.org/
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American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Propulsion Energy 2016
Salt Lake City, UT
July 25-27, 2016
http://www.aiaa-propulsionenergy.org/futureevents/
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Space 2016
Long Beach, CA
September 13-16, 2016
https://www.aiaa.org/EventDetail.aspx?id=27130
International Astronautical Federation, International Academy of Astronautics & International
Institute of Space Law
67h Annual International Astronautical Congress
Guadalajara, México
September 26-30, 2016
http://www.iafastro.org/guadalajara-to-host-iac-2016/
2016 International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight
Las Cruces, NM
October 12-13, 2016
http://www.ispcs.com/login/
14th Reinventing Space Conference
London, UK
October 24-27, 2016
http://rispace.org/?page_id=96
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PHOTO
The Emerald Isle (Ireland), photograph tweeted from the International Space Station by
European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake on March 17, 2016, St. Patrick’s Day.
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