JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW VOLUME 19, NUMBER 2 1991 JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW A journal devoted to the legal problems arising out of human activities in outer space VOLUME 19 1991 NUMBERS 2 EDITORIAL BOARD AND ADVISORS BERGER, HAROLD GALLOWAY, ElLENE Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Washington, D.C. BOCKSTIEGEL, KARL-HEINZ GOEDHUIS, D. Cologne, Germany London, England, BOUREr.. Y, MICHEL G. HE, QIZHI Paris, France Beijing, China COCCA, ALDO ARMANDO JASEN1ULIYANA, NANDASIRI Buenes Aires, Argentina New York, N.Y. DEMBLING, PAUL G. KOPAL, VLADIMIR Washington, D. C. Prague, Czechoslovakia DIEDERIKS-VERSCHOOR, I.H. PH. MCDOUGAL, MYRES S. Baarn, Holland New Haven, Connecticut FASAN, ERNST VERESHCHETIN, V.S. N eunkirchen, Austria Moscow, U.S.S.R. FINCH, EDWARD R., JR. ZANOTTI, ISIDORO New York, N.Y. Washington, D.C. STEPHEN GOROVE, Chainnan University, Mississippi All correspondance should be directed to the JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW, University of Mississippi Law Center, University, Mississippi 38677. JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW. The subscription rate for 1992 is $69.50 (domestic) and $75 (foreign) for two issues. Single issues may be ordered at $38 per issue (postage and handling included). Copyright@ JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW 1991 Suggested abbreviation: J. SPACE L. JOURNAL .OF SPACE LAW A journal devoted to the legal. problems arising out of human acti"ities in outer space VOLUME 19 1991 NUMBER 2 ---~-------------------------------------------------- ------------------ STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS A. Kelly Sessoms, ed. Clark C. Adams Gayle L. K. Holman Thomas C. Levidiotis Candidates Lisa A. D'Ambrosia R. Bradley Prewitt FACULTY ADVISER STEPHEN GOROVE All correspondance with reference to this publication should be directed to the JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW, University of Mississippi Law Center, University, Mississippi 38677. JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW. The subscription nte for 1992 is $69.50 (domestic) and $75 (foreign) for two issues .. Single issues may be ordered at $38 per issue (postage and handling included). Copyright @ JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW 1991 Suggested abbreviation: J. SPACE L. JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW A journal devoted to the legal problems arising out of human activities in outer space VOLUME 19 1991 NUMBER 2 CONTENTS ARTICLES The Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space: A New Set of United Nations Principles? (Vladimir Kopal) ................... 103 The Moon and Mars Missions: Can International Law Meet the Challenge? (Carl Q. Christol) ............................................ 123 SPECIAL FEATURES Events of Interest .................................................................... 137 A. Past Events ....................................................................... 137 Reports Tasks and Legal Aspects of the German Space Agency, DARA (Mathias Spude and Birgitta Staudt) ................................. 137 International Bar Association Discusses Space Law in Hong Kong, Sept. 20 - OctA, 1991 (Phillip Dann) .............................. 142 International Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, Montreal, Oct. 8-11, 1991 (Tanja L. Masson·Zwaan) ................................. 146 The Thirty-Fourth Session of COPUOS: An Appeal for Strengthening Space Law (Yvonne Lodico) ................................................ 162 Comments Current Status and Prospects for Space Insurance (Daniel E. Cassidy) ............................................................................ 166 Space Insurance: European Perspectives (Kevin J. Madders) ........ 171 The Omnibus Space Commercialization Act (Glenn H. Reynolds) ... I72 Case Note Martin Marietta Corporation v. ,International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) ................................... 173 Short Accounts The First Asian Comerence, on Air Transport and Space Activities, Taipei, Taiwan, May 25-30, 1991(Frans G.von der Dunk}.176 Air and Space Law and the Challenges of the XXlst Century (Dr. Donald H. Bunker} ..................................................... 179 Space Activities and Society (Margaret J. Gorove} ......................... 180 Symposium on the Changing Law of Outer Space (Dr. Eilene M. Galloway} .................................................. 181 Other Events .................................................................................. 182 Brief News ...................................................................................... 183 B. Forthcoming Events ........................................................... 185 Book Reviews ......................................................... 187 Gorove, Stephen, Developments in Space Law - Issues and Policies (V. S. Vereshchetin} .......................................................... 187 Bockstiegel, Karl-Heinz (ed.), Handbuch des Weltraumrechts (Stephan Hobe} ................................................................... 189 Recent Publications ................................................ 192 Books .............................................................................................. 192 Contributions ,to, Books ................................................................... 193 Articles ......................................................................................... 194 Reports ........................................................................................... 196 Notes/Comments ............................................................................. 197 Cases .............................................................................................. 197 Short Accounts ............................................................................... 197 Book Reviews/Notices ..................................., .................................. 198 Official Publications ...................................................................... 198 Miscellaneous ................................................................................ 20 1 Corrigendum .................................................................................. 201 Current Document ................................................... 202 OT A Report Brief, Exploring the Moon and Mars: Choices for the Nation ............................................................................... 202 Index to Volume 19 ................................................. 205 THE USE OF NUCLEAR POWER SOURCES IN OUTER SPACE: A NEW SET OF UNITED NATIONS PRINCIPLES? Vladimir Kopal+ Introduction During the last decade, the use of nuclear power sources in outer space became one of the most discussed topics on the agendas of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and both of its subcommittees. The consideration of this topic has advanced in recent years and is now approaching its end in the form of a new s.et of principles addressed to States and international organizations launching objects with nuclear power SOurces (NPS) on· board into outer space. This article deals with the progressive emergence of these principles in the joint efforts of COPUOS and its subcommittees. The deliberations on NPS developed in two stages, the dividing line being 1986 when the Legal Subcommittee started a systematic elaboration of draft principles on this subject. Nevertheless, the most significant result was recorded in 1990 when an agreement on the principle including "Guidelines and criteria for safe use" was reached. Another important step was made in 1991 when COPUOS reached consensus on "Responsibility" and "Liability and Compensation." In connection with them, the ensuing article will also outline some questions relating to the concepts of responsibility and liability in the wider context of the development of present international law. In the last section of the article, attention will be drawn to a number of issues concerning the draft principles which are still under discussion. In particular, the problem of defining the term "launching State" for the purpose of these principles, as well as the question of what legal form the new. set of principles should take, will be discussed. It is likely that "Principles relating to the use of NPS in outer space" will be finalized soon and, thus, become a new contribution to the progressive development of international space law by the United Nations. + Professor of Law, Doctor of Sciences. Chair of. International Law, Faculty of Law, Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia; member, Editorial Board, .bURNALOF SPACE LAW. 104 JOURNAL OF SPACE LAW Vol. 19, No.2. The First Stage of Deliberations on NPS' Initiated by Canada in 1978 following the accident of the Soviet nuclear powered satellite Cosmos 954, the use of NPS in space was first raised in the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. As a follow up in 1979, the Subcommittee established, in accordance with General Asse!l)bly resolution 33/16 of 10 November 1978, a working group of experts to consider the technical aspects and safety measures relating to the use of nuclear power sources in outer space.! This group, which was open to all . members of. the Subcommittee, met three times during the sessions of the Subcommittee from 1979 to 1981, and again in 1984 and 1985. After a certain break, when· the item of NPS was considered only in the Subcommittee, the working group was reconvened in 1988 and has continued its deliberations in 1989 and 1990, producing valuable reports reflecting the progress reached in its discussions.2 Among the conclusions reached in the early stages of the deliberations of the working group, two key elements have served as cornerstones for further work not only