The deadline for submission for abstracts for our next Colloquium is 10 March 2010.

The IISL will hold the following sessions in Prague:

E8.1: Nandasiri Jasentuliyana Keynote Lecture on Space Law & Young Scholars Session

In the first part of this session, the IISL will invite a prominent speaker to address the members of the Institute and other congress attendants on a highly topical issue of broad interest. The second part of this session will be especially dedicated to the space lawyers of the future, in that young scholars (under 35 years old) are invited to present a paper on "Space Law - Future Challenges and Potential Solutions", but the IISL is also open to other topics. Note: All young scholars are requested to submit their paper to THIS session ONLY.

Chairs: V. Kopal, T. Masson-Zwaan

E8.2: 30 Years of the Moon Agreement: Perspectives

For this session, papers are invited to analytically address the future perspectives of the Moon Agreement, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009. Papers may thus critically analyze (a) recent developments in COPUOS, such as the 2008 'joint statement' by several states parties on the benefits of adhering to the Agreement, (b) the future design, adoption and implementation of an international regime to govern the exploitation of the natural resources of the celestial bodies "as such exploitation is about to become feasible", (c) the reasons for the timid support for the Agreement from the international community, and (d) issues concerning the protection of the Moon environment and of other celestial bodies. The question of how exploitation of moon resources relates to the non-appropriation principle as well as the Common Heritage of Mankind principle may also be critically scrutinized.

Chairs: M. Hoffman, M. Williams

E8. 3: Legal Aspects of Space Security

Recent anti-satellite tests and the EU Proposal for a Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities of December 2008 as well as other initiatives like the Russian-Chinese proposal for a treaty demilitarizing outer space ('Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use Of Force Against Outer Space Objects'), together with the collision of a Russian defunct satellite with an operational US Satellite in early 2009, sparked broad international debate amongst experts and decision-makers alike. Papers in this session are invited to analyze the legal aspects related to the need for keeping space safe for civilian as well as military operations avoiding the weaponization of space at the same time. Papers are also encouraged to address the most recent proposals in this context and to present ideas for the further development of space law addressed to the relevant international forums.

Chairs: K-U. Schrogl, R Lee

E8. 4: Current Status of the Rule of Law with regard to Space Activities

Since the adoption of the Moon Agreement in 1979, no other international treaties have been adopted in the United Nations. Rather, first a number of United Nations General Assembly Resolutions on Direct Broadcasting Satellites, Remote Sensing, and Nuclear Power Sources were adopted concerning certain areas of uses in outer space. Thereafter, other United Nations General Assembly Resolutions served the purpose of making more concrete certain aspects of international space legislation, such as Article I paragraph 1 of the Outer Space Treaty with the Space Benefits Declaration, or the notion of Launching State in the Liability Convention and the Registration Convention, etc. Against this background, in light of the most recent development of the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, papers are invited to discuss the current status of the rule of law with regard to outer space activities. (Generally, the "rule of law" means that the law must be prospective, well-known, and have characteristics of generality, equality, and certainty).

Chairs: S. Hobe, P. Jankowitsch

E8. 5: Recent Developments in Space Law

In this session, papers are invited to address legal aspects of the most recent developments in space activities that have taken place since the other session topics have been determined, i.e. since March 2009 only. In addition, papers are invited to address two special issues. Firstly, this concerns the legal aspects of Solar Power Satellites. In this field several high-level technical studies are currently conducted to assess whether such satellites can operate within the existing international regulatory regime and whether such regime is conducive to this newest space application. Secondly, papers are invited to address the ongoing developments and progress in the context of international Intergovernmental agreements on space cooperation and space activities, such as the Agreement on the International Space Station or agreements pertaining to international satellite organizations like ITSO, IMSO, EUTELSAT IGO or ARABSAT.

Chairs: F. von der Dunk, KRS. Murthi

B3.8: Joint IAF-IISL session on Legal Framework for Collaborative Human Space Missions

This session invites discussions around topics related to the legal aspects of international collaboration in future human space missions and programmes such as the ISS lifetime extension, post ISS activities in LEO, or the Lunar Exploration. The scope encompasses both inter-agency as well as industrial collaboration. The session shall provide a forum to discuss the regulatory framework to establish and effectively run these programmes through development and operation phases especially, but not exclusively, from an industrial point of view. In addition, the session will address current tendencies to extend the duration and partnership of the ISS program and lessons learned in the legal domain from collaborative programs such as the built-up phase of the ISS, Interkosmos, or the Shuttle-Spacelab programme.

Chairs: C. Bank, L.J. Smith

If your abstract is accepted, we fully count on the author's commitment to come to Prague to present his/her paper. In recent years we have had to refuse quite a number of abstracts because of the high number of submissions, so please take this into account before submitting your abstract. Note also that the IISL policy is to accept not more than one paper per author so kindly refrain from sending in multiple abstracts.

Please login on your authors page at the IAF website to submit your abstract. Only abstracts submitted online and before the deadline will be considered at the paper selection meeting in March. Instructions for submitting abstracts are available here:

http://www.iafastro.org/index.html?title=IAC_Papers

General information about the Prague IAC can be found here: http://www.iafastro.org/index.html?title=IAC2010