Week Schedule & Dates - A Week By Week Course Breakdown and Reading Assignments:

August 27^th Week One (1)

Introduction to Course: Outline, Goals, and Expectations.  Individual Projects.

Topics:

1. Structure and sources of international space law and relationship to national law(s).

2. Emerging tension between commercial and governmental space law needs.

3. The concepts of jurisdiction, delimitation of Outer Space, and ‘Res Communis’.

September 3^rd Week Two (2)

Topics:

1. United Nations and Outer Space Treaty(s).

2. Structure and Space-Law Making Processes of UN.

3. Historical Background of Treaties.

Reading: Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (a.k.a. UN Outer Space Treaty).

September 10^th Week Three (3)

Topics:

1. Liability Convention.

Reading: Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (a.k.a. UN Liability Convention).

September 17^th Week Four (4)

Topics: TBD – Guest Speaker

September 24^th Week Five (5)

Topics:

1. Registration Convention

2. Astronaut Rescue and Return Treaty.

Reading: Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space, and Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects into Outer Space (a.k.a. UN Registration and Astronaut Rescue Treaties).

October 1^st Week Six (6) 

Topics

1. Moon Treaty.

Reading: Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (a.k.a. Lunar Treaty).

October 8^th Week Seven (7) 

Mid Term Exam

Topics

1. Principles relating to the Remote Sensing of Earth from Outer Space (Shutter Control).

2. Principles relating to the Use of nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space.

3. Declaration of Needs of Developing Nations.

4. Principles Governing Direct Television Broadcasting (including introduction to the International Telecommunications Union).

Reading: All Principles adopted by the General Assembly

October 15^th Week Eight (8)

1. October 17^th World Space Congress 2:55 pm to 5:30 pm

2. World Space Congress

3. International Institute of Space Law International Space Law Moot Court Finals Field Trip

University of Houston, Wortham Theatre, 100 Law Center Houston, Texas 77204

October 22^nd Week Nine (9) 

Topics

1. Commercial Satellite Telecommunications Overview

2. Application of Space Law to Commercial Orbital Revenue Cycle

3. International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

4. ITU Law-Making and Coordination Processes

5. Equitable distribution and use of Geostationary Orbits and Radio Frequencies

October 28th  Class Drop Date

October 29^th Week Ten (10)

Topics

1. Commercial Satellite Contracting

2. Launch Vehicle Selection and Contracting

3. Space Insurance

4. Contract Cycle

November 5^th Week Eleven (11)

Topics

1. Use of current topical examples – China’s Manned Space Flight Program

2. National Space Laws

3. United Kingdom

4. United States (*Guest Speaker TBD)

November 12^th Week Twelve (12)

Topics

1. Egregious Uses of Outer Space?

2. Space Tourism

3. Space Solar Power

4. Space Burial (*Guest Speaker TBD)

5. Appropriation and Utilization of space resources

6. Appropriation and Colonization of other planetary bodies

November 19^th Week Thirteen (13)

Topics

1. International Space Agency Agreements

2. Legal Framework for International Space Station Agreement and M.O.U.’s (*Guest Speaker TBD)

Reading: International Space Station M.O.U.s

November 26^th Week Fourteen (14)

Thanks Giving Reading Week

December 3^rd Week Fifteen (15)

1. Course Re-Cap & Summation

*Guest Speaker TBD

December 10^th Week Sixteen (16)

1. Graduate and Undergraduate Projects Due.

End of Course.

The Instructor reserves the right to make appropriate changes in the syllabus.  It is the student’s responsibility to keep updated on course information if he or she is absent.