Exploring legalities in the cosmos: University of Arizona launches space law course

Exploring legalities in the cosmos: University of Arizona launches space law course
by Clarence Oxford
Tucson AZ (SPX) Apr 23, 2024

As space exploration intensifies with more satellites and space missions, the University of Arizona is introducing a new course to educate on space law and policy. This course, offered jointly by the James E. Rogers College of Law and the College of Science, provides students insights into legal and regulatory aspects of space activities such as asteroid mining, space tourism, and communications satellites.

"Space is a growth area, and there aren't enough people who understand both the law and the science of this new frontier," remarked Andrew Keane Woods, Milton O. Riepe Professor of Law and Distinguished Legal Scholar. He added, "There is a lot of new space activity - new launches, new satellites - that raise many corresponding law and policy questions."

The course is co-taught by Woods and Vishnu Reddy, planetary sciences professor and director of the UArizona Space4 Center. Reddy elaborated on the course's approach, stating, "With the space environment becoming increasingly crowded, it's vital to understand the legal and basic scientific principles of space. This knowledge is crucial as more nations and companies embark on space missions."

Andrew Macdonald, a law student enrolled in the course, shared his enthusiasm: "I'm a big space nerd," he said. "I have a fascination with science. When I saw the space law class, I didn't think that was a thing. It's a crossover of hard science and existing law that is old and the potential emergence of new law."

The course is also planning to expand its reach by adapting its content for a crash course for executives and professionals in the space industry.

The increasing activity in cislunar space, the region between Earth and the moon, highlights the need for this education. Reddy and Roberto Furfaro, professor of systems and industrial engineering, are working on cyberinfrastructure to better characterize and identify objects in this zone.

Woods noted a resurgence in interest in space law, stating, "The Space Age continues, yet the legal scholarship in the U.S. hasn't kept up." He emphasized the importance of understanding international treaties and domestic regulations that govern space activities.

The University of Arizona's space sciences program is a key player in the field, with significant contributions like the NASA OSIRIS-REx mission and roles in the James Webb Space Telescope. Woods concluded, "If you're interested in space law, the University of Arizona is a no-brainer. I'm not aware of another space law program that combines such a strong space sciences program and such a strong law school."