International Space Law in the New Space Era Principles and Challenges

The increasingly commercial nature of space activities and the intent of States to expand space travel have spawned renewed attempts of changing the foundations of space law, most of which originated in the twentieth century. Understanding the principles of international space law is essential for ensuring a sustainable future for all in outer space. International Space Law in the New Space Era addresses the international legal and regulatory aspects of outer space that govern developments in the field worldwide. It covers the five United Nations' space treaties along with soft law and other policies. With contributions from established experts in the domain of space law, the volume encompasses the entire gamut of international space law while simultaneously addressing inadequacies that have arisen in light of current developments such as space commercialization, space tourism, and space mining. Space law as an academic discipline is gaining prominence in law schools across the globe and this book is the result of a joint endeavour of two prominent Indian law universities (NUJS, Kolkata & MNLU, Mumbai), which have specialized centres in air and space laws. With its balanced mix of theory and practice, this book provides a timely and accessible resource to understanding international law not only for students and academics, but also for policymakers, practitioners, and those working in the space industry.

Prof. (Dr.) Sandeepa Bhat B. is working as a Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Aviation and Space Laws at West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. He is the first person to be inducted as the UNIDROIT Correspondent for India. He is a member of four distinguished international bodies including the American Society of International Law. He also has the distinction of being a member of the Indian Space Research Organization's Expert Group for drafting the National Space Act for India. Prof. (Dr.) Dilip Ukey is the Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Law at Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai. Before joining MNLU Mumbai, he served as a Professor and the Head of the Department at the Department of Law, Savitribai Phule Pune University Pune. In the past, he was appointed as a Visiting Research Fellow by New South Wales University, Sydney Adithya Variath is an Assistant Professor of Law and Coordinator of the Centre for Research in Air and Space Law at Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai. He was also a Research Fellow at the Information Society Law Center, University of Milan, Italy. He was also a Research Group Member at the Centre for AI and Digital Policy, Washington, DC, United States. He is the Founding Editor of the Indian Review of Air and Space Law.