Buckle up Houston, because we’re in for a sight. This week, on March 13th and 14th, we will be treated to a total lunar eclipse.
Read moreOut-of-this-World Series!
Today, we are celebrating! Our hometown team, the mighty Houston Astros, is facing off against the Washington Nationals in the 2019 World Series. The initial games are being played at Minute Maid Park, just blocks away from our building at Congress Plaza in downtown Houston. We’re fortunate and thrilled to be so close to the action, and we’re doing our part to support the most stellar team in the cosmos!
The Nationals are, of course, named for our nation’s capital (although the origins of the team name have been disputed and clarified over the years), while the Astros have truly universal appeal. Named to represent Space City, the Astros are the only team to claim a moniker that makes them the team of the galaxy. Lest you think we overstate the Astros’ status as an intergalactic force for good, allow us to provide the evidence:
The Milwaukee Brewers have the Sausage Men, but did you know that the Astros once had a running competition for costumed astronauts? Talk about a space race!
What about that mascot, the lovable, Orbit?
Who but Astros fans can legitimately wear space helmets to the games? (Get yours here.)
And how about the mighty Jose Altuve, whose walk-off homer in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series coincided with last week’s historic all-female spacewalk? Two achievements that are out of this world!
Clearly, Houston, our diverse and dynamic city occupies an important place in our solar system, and we’ve embraced our role in the cosmos by producing one of the very best teams in MLB history. We couldn’t be prouder.
In celebration of this pride – in our team and in our city – we at the Law Library are highlighting our own Space Law Collection (and previous blog posts on the topic) as well as our Law of Space digital exhibit. Additional resources are listed below.
So, You Want to be a Space Lawyer? (Paste Magazine)
Space Lawyers, They Exist (Fast Company)
Education Curriculum on Space Law (UN Office for Outer Space Affairs)
GO ASTROS! We love you to the moon and back!
Space Law - Apollo 11 Moon Landing, 50th Anniversary
Saturday, July 20, 2019 was the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. Here in Space City, we’re marking the event with an exhibit, currently on display in the Law Library lobby, a digital exhibit on The Law of Space, and a compilation of resources from the Harris County Law Library’s print collection. Included are a number of primary law materials (listed below) and related visual content, which you can find on NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory website and download for personal use.
The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, contained in the United States Statues at Large, Pub. L. No. 85-568, 72 Stat. 426-438, established NASA and marked America’s official entry into the Space Race.
The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14: Aeronautics and Space details the purpose, function, and organization of NASA as mandated by Congress.
To accommodate the large number of astronauts who live in Texas, the Secretary of State adopted special rules, spelled out in the Texas Administrative Code §81.35, that authorize NASA to implement procedures for casting ballots in outer space.
The Outer Space Treaty, the multilateral agreement that established the governance of state activities in the exploration and use of outer space, was signed by more than 100 countries. It was first proposed by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in August of 1966, making this the 50th anniversary of its conception.
Article I, which captures the spirit of the Outer Space Treaty, is excerpted here. As we recognize this sentiment of equality, good will, adventure, and cooperation, the Harris County Law Library invites you to explore our resources. Plan your visit today!
“The exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind.
Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be free for exploration and use by all States without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law, and there shall be free access to all areas of celestial bodies.
There shall be freedom of scientific investigation in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, and States shall facilitate and encourage international co-operation in such investigation.”
Additional resources have been previously reviewed on Ex Libris Juris as Latest & Greatest features.
Latest & Greatest – Conflicts in Space and the Rule of Law
Edited by Maria Manoli and Sandy Belle Habchi
Published by McGill University Centre for Research in Air and Space Law
KZD 1145 .M366 2017
The newest edition to the space law collection at Harris County Law Library is Conflicts in Space and the Rule of Law, a selection of papers that had been presented at the 4th Manfred Lachs Conference on Conflicts in Space and the Rule of Law held in Montreal, Canada. An interdisciplinary look at issues facing the exploration and commercial exploitation of outer space, Conflicts in Space and the Rule of Law examines technological developments that provide greater accessibility to the far reaches of the universe and the new threats that emerge with the advent of these advances. In this regard, the papers cover such topics as anti-satellite technologies, security concerns in and regulatory control of the Proto-zone, and conflicts relating to radio frequency interference. The participants also considered areas of potential conflict, such as those involving space weapons, active debris removal, and the selling of lunar resources. From a legal standpoint, some of the issues tackled included the intersecting challenges of space security and cybersecurity, the legal challenges arising from the action of non-state actors in outer space, and the rules of engagement for military space operations. Lastly, Conflicts in Space and the Rule of Law looks to the future by analyzing the prospects for space arms control and global space governance.
If the future of outer space is of interest to you, have a look at Conflicts in Space and the Rule of Law. Another book in the Monograph Series that might pique your curiosity is NewSpace Commercialisation and the Law, which was featured in a previous Latest & Greatest blog post.
By the way, in case you were wondering, the conference is named for Manfred Lachs, a Polish diplomat and jurist who was a great influence on the development of international law following World War II.
Latest & Greatest – NewSpace Commercialisation and the Law
Edited by Md Tanveer Ahmad & Jinyuan Su
Published by McGill Centre for Research in Air and Space Law
KZD 1141 .M36 2017
A collection of papers presented at the 3rd Manfred Lachs International Conference on NewSpace Commercialisation and the Law held in Montreal, Canada, NewSpace Commercialisation and the Law presents a snapshot of the current status and future of global space exploration as well as the issues and challenges facing space law, policies, and regulations. The term "NewSpace" refers to the movement associated with entrepreneurial endeavors surrounding commercial human space flight and the development of technologies to assist governmental and private space activities. This book aims to address emerging issues and problems that confront both commercial and governmental space programs. Written by scientists, legal experts, and academics, the papers presented in this book cover such diverse topics as space governance, legal aspects of private space stations, satellite miniaturization, avoiding harmful contamination in the exploration and use of outer space, active debris removal, and commercial satellites for military purposes.
The reality of space exploration and the technologies associated with it are no longer merely something you read about in a science fiction novel. The future is here, and the future is now. Read about it in NewSpace Commercialisation and the Law.