session 4

Title

Planetary Defence: Legal Issues in the Deflection of Hazardous Asteroids and Comets

type

oral

Description

Planetary defence covers human activities to address potential impacts of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) - asteroids or comets that pass relatively close to the Earth’s orbit in astronomical terms – on the Earth. In recent years, space agencies have increased their efforts in the detection and appraisal of hazardous NEOs and to develop strategies to prevent and mitigate potential impacts. In view of different potential mitigation measures, legal questions need to be answered. Some mitigation measures may raise concerns with respect to their legality under international law, most notably nuclear explosive devices. In addition, States may be liable for damage caused on Earth or in outer space in the context of a planetary defence mission. The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) are involved in awareness raising and in promoting international discourse and global cooperation on the topic of NEOs, including by the establishment of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG). In 2020, an Ad hoc Working Group on Legal Issues of SMPAG published a report on some of the most pressing legal issues of planetary defence.

IPC members

• Co-Chair: Prof. Alissa J. Haddaji, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States;

• Co-Chair: Prof. Irmgard Marboe, University of Vienna, Austria;

• Rapporteur: Mr. Anıl Akyol, TOBBUYUM, Türkiye;

• Rapporteur: Ms. Jingyi Liu, Beijing Institute of Technology, Institute of Space Law, China;