• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE ON INTEGRATED SPACE AND AIR Town TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Cape Alexanderof Gairiseb SpaceLab, Department of Electrical Engineering University This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Space Studies July 2019 SL19-08M The copyright of this thesis vests inTown the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes Capeonly. of Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University DECLARATION I know the meaning of plagiarism and declare that all the work in the document, save for that which is properly acknowledged, is my own. It has not been previously submitted, in part or whole, to any university or institution for any degree, diploma, or other qualification. This dissertation has been submitted to the Turnitin module (or equivalent similarity and originality checking software) and I confirm that my supervisor has seen my report and any concerns revealed by such have been resolved with my supervisor. Signed:__________________________ Date:____________30 July________________________ 2019 Alexander Gairiseb, Baccalaureus Juris, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) University of Namibia i ABSTRACT Space Traffic Management (STM) is an emerging area of interest in the space sector because States and private actors are collaborating on ways to manage the growing congestion in orbit and to mitigate the impact of space debris and space weather as part of sustainable use and exploration of outer space. Further, the pace at which commercial space operations is mushrooming and the potential for growth that the suborbital space flight market presents has led to talks about integrating space and air traffic management, through technological interfaces and harmonised regulatory regimes. But, the current global challenge is the lack of a legal framework, either in the existing space-related treaties or the adoption of a new treaty regulating STM similar to the other traffic regimes, namely aviation and maritime, and advancement in technology to seamlessly integrate Space Traffic Management (STM) and Air Traffic Management (ATM). Therefore, the proposed integration of space and air traffic management necessitates an analysis of African perspectives when it comes to consolidating the two traffic regimes, taking into account the fact that ATM in Africa is fragmented. Hence, this study analyses the legal aspects of integrating Space and Air Traffic Management from the African perspective. ii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my late brother Kasper Gairiseb may his soul rest in eternal peace. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to extend my gratitude to my beloved wife Mrs. Whitney Gairises and our three beautiful daughters Rona-Lee Gift Ochurus, Precious Naomi Ochurus and Esperanza Glorious Gairises, for the love, support and understanding they displayed during the late nights I spent away from them whilst writing this dissertation, and for cheering me up when the research got tough. I would like also to thank my supervisor Prof. Peter Martinez for his guidance, time and effort he dedicated to me at the time of writing this dissertation despite his busy work schedule. May God bless you in all your endeavours. iv CONTENTS DECLARATION......................................................................................................................... I ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... iI DEDICATION ......................................................................................................................... III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... IV ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................................................. IX 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 PROPOSED SPACEPORTS IN AFRICA ....................................................................................... 3 1.2 CURRENT AIR AND SEA LAUNCH CAPABILITY IN AFRICA ...................................................... 7 1.3 GOALS/OBJECTIVES OF THE DISSERTATION........................................................................... 9 1.4 STRUCTURE OF THE DISSERTATION ..................................................................................... 10 2. DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF INTEGRATED SPACE AND AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................................11 2.1 CONCEPTS OF STM AND ATM ........................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 DEFINITION OF AIRCRAFT AND SPACECRAFT ..................................................................... 13 2.2 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ATM ................................................................................. 14 2.3 CURRENT STATUS OF SATM .............................................................................................. 16 2.4 PROPOSED/FUTURE SATM FRAMEWORKS .......................................................................... 18 3. AFRICAN SPACE PROGRAMME: LEGAL, REGULATORY, AND POLICY ASPECTS ................................................................................................................................. 25 3.1 SPACE LAW, REGULATION AND POLICY AT REGIONAL LEVEL ................................................ 25 3.2 AFRICAN SPACE POLICY AND STRATEGY ............................................................................ 26 3.3 STATUTE OF THE AFRICAN SPACE AGENCY ......................................................................... 29 4. AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE ON INTEGRATED SATM ....................................................32 4.1 COMMERCIAL SPACE TRAVEL AND TOURISM MARKET IN AFRICA ......................................... 32 4.2 INTEGRATION OF SPACE OPERATIONS INTO AFRICAN ATM .................................................. 33 4.2.1 ATM IN AFRICA ............................................................................................................. 33 4.2.2 SPACE TOURISM IN THE ATM OF AFRICA ........................................................................ 35 4.2.3 LAUNCH, RE-ENTRY AND SOUNDING ROCKETS INTEGRATION IN THE AFRICAN ATM ......... 37 4.2.4 SWOT ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................... 41 4.3 TECHNICAL/OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF STM ........………………………………………... 43 4.3.1 Orbital Space Debris ……………………………………………………………………. 44 4.3.2 Existing Space Situational Awareness ………………………………………………….. 47 4.3.3 OPERATIONAL ISSUES RELATED TO NEAR SPACE ………………………………………… 52 4.3.4 CONCLUSION ……………………………………………………………………………. 54 5. LEGAL ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATED SATM ................................................................56 5.1 REGULATION OF INTEGRATED SATM ................................................................................. 56 5.2 SOVEREIGNTY PRINCIPLE AND INTEGRATION OF SPACE OPERATIONS INTO ATM ................... 60 5.3 LIABILITY ISSUES ARISING FROM THE AMALGAMATION OF SPACE OPERATIONS IN ATM ........ 63 5.3.1 Liability under International Air Law ............................................................................. 63 5.3.2 Liability under Space Law .............................................................................................. 65 5.4 PROVISION OF AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES IN PROTOZONE AND OUTER SPACE ............................ 66 5.5 CONSOLIDATION OR SEPARATION OF LEGAL REGIMES .......................................................... 68 v 6. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................70 REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................74 TREATIES/CONVENTIONS ......................................................................................................... 80 vi LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1.1 SAN MARCO LAUNCH PLATFORM........................................................................................ 9 FIGURE 2.1 SPACELINER. ....................................................................................................................... 21 FIGURE 2.2 INTEGRATION OF THE SPACELINER TRAJECTORY INTO A EUROPEAN AIR TRAFFIC SCENARIO …………………………………………………………………………….………………...… 21 FIGURE 2.3 ILLUSTRATING THE ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUAL FLIGHTS WITHIN A FLIGHT-CENTRIC ATC CONCEPT, ASSIGNING THE SPACE VEHICLE TO A DEDICATED CONTROLLER ................................................................................................................................................................ 23 FIGURE 4.1 IMAGE DEPICTING FUTURE OR PROPOSED SPACE HUBS FOR BOTH PASSENGER AND CARGO INCLUDING AFRICA PARTICULARLY JOHANNESBURG. ............................................................ 37 FIGURE 4.2 LAUNCH SITE AT HAMMAGUIR IN ALGERIA ……………………………………..……………………………. 38 FIGURE 4.3 ESA SPACE DEBRIS TELESCOPE ……………………………………………………………………………... 48 FIGURE 4.4 RADAR SYSTEMS: MONOSTATIC RADAR AND BISTATIC RADAR ………………………….……. 50 vii LIST OF

Load more

  144

Copy Link