Law and the Extension of the Human Presence with Moon 2.0 – Update to Global Compact 2.0? Jan Helge Mey Institute of Air and Space Law McGill University, Montreal August 2008 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master in Laws (LL.M.) © Jan Helge Mey 2008 Acknowledgements Thanks to the global knowledge pool into which it is so much easier to tap through the Internet and the World Wide Web. It is constantly enriched through a myriad of individual contributions strengthening the communicative and collaborative fabric of the global community. However, the access to a flood of information is useless without personal guidance. My particular appreciation therefore belongs to Prof. Ram Jakhu for his supervision and support of the thesis. I will especially keep the long and at times rather philosophical discussions in my memory. For his kind and constructive review of the thesis, I also want to thank Prof. Jonathan F. Galloway. I would like to thank Catherine Doldirina for her feedback on my first conception of the thesis. Victoria Prince and Véronique Schlemmer have smoothed the text over with their incredible language skills. I am indebted to Pleotian Uttarachai and Peter Devinsky for their logistical support. Without the wonderful times and the sustained mutual support among the inhabitants of the cubicles at the McGill Nahum Gelber Law Library, the process of writing this thesis would not have been the same. I am grateful to have met all these extraordinary people at the Institute of Air and Space Law in Montreal. Thanks to the IASL Class of 2008 and the many interesting and friendly people of Montreal and at McGill University who have made the LL.M. program a unique experience for me. i Abstract / Résumé In 1969, humans set foot on the lunar surface for the first time. The space race of the cold war era was at its peak with Moon 1.0. Almost four decades later, there is renewed interest in returning to the Moon and going beyond. This time, the extension of the human presence into outer space is meant to be permanent and sustainable. Space exploration is to be brought into the economic sphere with Moon 2.0. The activities of the public sector mainly represented in the Global Exploration Strategy and those of the private sector, which have been highlighted by the Google Lunar X PRIZE are surveyed and contrasted against the core international legal framework. Arguing that the private sector can play a unique role in reconciling inclusive social interests for the benefit of mankind with their current exclusive economic priorities, the United Nations Global Compact is offered as a suitable gateway. C’est en 1969 que l’homme a mis pieds sur la lune pour la première fois. La course vers l’espace à l’époque de la guerre froide était a son apogée avec Lune 1.0. Près de quatre décades plus tard, l’intérêt de retourner vers la lune et d’aller même encore plus loin est de nouveau réveillé. Cette fois-ci, on a l’intention d’assurer l’extension de la présence humaine dans l’espace de façon permanente et durable. L’exploration spatiale doit gagner une dimension économique avec Lune 2.0. Les activités du secteur public représentées surtout par la Stratégie mondiale d’exploration et celles secteur privé qui ont été mises en évidence par le concours Google Lunar X PRIZE, sont examinées et comparées au principes fondamentales du droit international. Invoquant l’argument que le secteur privé peut jouer un rôle unique en conciliant les intérêts sociaux pour le bienfait de l’humanité et les priorités économiques actuelles excluantes, le Pacte Mondial des Nations Unies est proposé comme moyen d’accès approprié. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................... i Abstract / Résumé ................................................................................................................ ii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iii Table of Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................... vi Table of Figures .................................................................................................................. ix A. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 B. Evolution of Space Activities – From Moon 1.0 to 2.0 ............................................... 3 I. Historical Evolution: From Independent States to Global Community .................. 3 II. Main Actors – Who? ............................................................................................. 11 1. From Public Duo-Pole to Public-Private Space Economy ................................. 11 2. Status of Non-State Actors .................................................................................. 14 III. Main Activities and Applications – What? ........................................................... 16 IV. Organisational Setup – How? ............................................................................... 19 V. Geocentric Activities vs. Leaving the Cradle of Mankind – Why? ...................... 22 VI. Forms, Levels and Timing of Regulation – Freedoms or Limits? ........................ 25 VII. Interim Conclusion: Continuation of Major Trends and a New Chapter .............. 28 C. Public Sector: The Global Exploration Strategy (GES)............................................. 30 I. National Space Exploration Initiatives and Policies ............................................. 30 1. ASI (Italy) ........................................................................................................... 30 2. BNSC (United Kingdom) ................................................................................... 31 3. CNES (France) .................................................................................................... 32 4. CNSA (China) ..................................................................................................... 33 5. CSA (Canada) ..................................................................................................... 34 6. CSIRO (Australia) .............................................................................................. 35 7. DLR (Germany) .................................................................................................. 35 8. ESA (European Space Agency) .......................................................................... 36 9. ISRO (India) ........................................................................................................ 39 10. JAXA (Japan) ...................................................................................................... 39 11. KARI (Republic of Korea) .................................................................................. 41 12. NASA (USA) ...................................................................................................... 41 iii 13. NSAU (Ukraine) ................................................................................................. 46 14. Roscosmos (Russia) ............................................................................................ 47 II. The Global Exploration Strategy .......................................................................... 48 1. Origins and Background ..................................................................................... 48 2. The Underlying Vision ....................................................................................... 49 3. The International Coordination Mechanism: ISECG.......................................... 53 III. Core International Legal Framework for Space Exploration ................................ 58 1. Freedom of Exploration and Use ........................................................................ 58 2. Non-appropriation ............................................................................................... 60 3. Benefit and Interest of Mankind ......................................................................... 67 4. Mere Technicalities or Legal Issues at Stake? .................................................... 69 IV. Interim Conclusion ................................................................................................ 71 D. Private Sector: The Google Lunar X PRIZE – Moon 2.0 .......................................... 73 I. Google Lunar X PRIZE ........................................................................................ 73 1. History and Theory of Prizes .............................................................................. 73 2. The Challenge: A privately funded Moon 2.0? .................................................. 75 3. The Foundation: Education and Outreach or Interpretative Predominance? ...... 76 4. The Sponsor: Brand, Profit and Philanthropy? ................................................... 78 5. The Teams: Globalization in Practice? ............................................................... 79 II. Towards a Business-Friendly Stable Regulatory Framework .............................. 81 1. Definition ............................................................................................................ 81 2. National Approach .............................................................................................. 81