The International Institute of Space Law (IISL) is sad to note the passing on 27 January 2014 of our friend and colleague Vladimír Kopal.
An Honorary Director and former Vice President of the IISL, Prof. Dr Kopal was Professor of International Law at Plzeň University at the Czech Republic. In 2010, he received the IISL's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Alongside his IISL award, Professor Kopal received recognition from the International Astronautical Federation for his dedication to the development of international cooperation in space activities for peaceful purposes, a golden medal of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences for his contributions to the progressive development of international law; and a golden medal of the Hermann Oberth Society for the development of international cooperation in space activities.
His funeral will take place on 11 February in Prague.