NYU School of Law - Environmental Law Journal

New York University's Environmental Law Journal presented a one-day colloquium, "The Environmental Issues Surrounding Space Exploration and Development," on Friday, February 21 in Greenberg Lounge, Vanderbilt Hall, New York University School of Law.

The Keynote speaker was introduced by John Sexton, Dean of NYU School of Law.

Space Exploration at A Critical Time
The recent crash of the Russian Mars '96 space probe over Chile and Bolivia is clear evidence of the effect human activity in outer space can have on the environment. This is a critical time in legal history: space exploration and development agendas worldwide can still be made compatible with environmental law and sensitive to environmental issues.

Panel I: Space Debris and Other Objects Cluttering Space
This panel examined the extent of the environmental hazards posed by space debris to Earth, its inhabitants, and future space stations and missions; the international and environmental legal response to space debris threats; and possible liability and insurance regimes for handling environmental damage caused by space debris.

Panel II: Satellites: An Environmental Tool
This panel addressed the use of geostationary satellites, the Global Positioning System, and remote sensing to monitor the environment. The worldwide coverage and accuracy of satellites provides the unprecedented opportunity to forecast weather conditions, detect global warming, predict general geologic and climatic changes, and track compliance with environmental laws.

Panel III: Allocation of Space Resources and the Environment
This panel considered whether outer space should be used for environmental purposes, whether space is the "common heritage of mankind," and whether privatization may be the most efficient way to develop space and gain environmental benefits.

Participants
Prominent speakers included: Ambassador Edward Finch, Michael Gerrard, Joseph Loftus, Delbert Smith, Jonathan Epstein, Professor Joanne Gabrynowicz, Dr. Amanda Moore, Robert Puterski, Professor Mohammed Bekhechi, Professor Glenn Reynolds, and Professor Lawrence Roberts.