Carl Quimby Christol, who pioneered the field of international space law, died of natural causes at his home in Santa Barbara, California on 22 February 2012 at the age of 98.
Full IISL obituary.
This page of condolences has been compiled with the help of his many friends and colleagues.
Toutes mes condoleances au grand Professeur Carl Q. Christol
I, professor Dr.d’Etat, Kunihiko TATSUZAWA, feel deep sorrow for the death of great Professor Carl Q. Christol, one of the greatest precursors of international space law and express my condolence to his family.
It's a sad and a feeling of deep missing to receive news on the passing away of Prof Christol, whom all of us respected so much.
In Indonesia, his books and articles, particularly on space law, are very
valuable references, besides other publications of very few writers, which
can be found in Indonesia.
Yasidi Hambali
Please convey my deepest condolences to the family of Prof.Carl Christol who passed away recently. We came in contact first time in 1969 while I was a post-doctoral Fulbright faculty member in the Institute of Aerospace Law, School of law, SMU, Dallas, Texas. Prof.Christol invited me as a panel member in a global conference in UC Los Angeles.
Space law was in a twilight stage. Prof.Christol guided we younger generation through his long-term vision of role of space law for the world community. No single jurists or writer has written so voluminous creative volumes on space law. To me Prof.Christol has been the greatest space law scholar.He was also keen to protect the space environment. He sent me a copy of book on ozone depletion problem report he made for US Senate.
Above all,Prof.Christol was a gentleman of the highest order,humble,unassuming,yet with a deep and brilliant mind. He kept in touch frequently,and sent me monographs and books that I have kept in the Library of Centre for Air Law,Space Law, NALSAR University, Hyderabad. The world has lost a genius. Yet he worked until his last moment.
I pay him my warmest regards. He has left world enriched with students and scholars to carry forward the role of space law for the 21st century. I am personally thankful to Prof.Christol for his in-depth review of my book on future trends in space law with an Introduction from Prof. Isabela H.Ph.Diederiks-Verschoor, President Emeritus. The review was published in AJIL.
I pray for peace to the departed soul.
Prof. Saligram Bhatt, Prof.of Space Law, Hony Prof.Int.Law,JNU,New Delhi. UN Adviser to Govts in Africa. Dy DGCA India,Retd.
I had the pleasure and the honor to meet Prof. Christol in 1992, when, in adherence to the United Nations International Space Year, CIDA-E organized in Montevideo an International Space Colloquium which dealt with the theme " Outer space: frontier or common heritage?". Prof. Christol was invited to participate as speaker, together with Drs. Manuel A. Ferrer and Aldo A. Cocca from Argentina, as well as with other national and foreign experts, and he addressed the subject "The aerospace plane and the definition and delimitations of Outer Space".
I had already known about him before 1992, as Dr. Eduardo Gaggero met Prof. Christol in occasion of his visit to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in 1982, and, when he came back, he told us about his exceptional virtues. When I had the privilege to meet him, I could confirm that, beyond his deep knowledge of space law and of the Law as a whole, recognized worldwide, he was a very friendly person who demonstrated his great human quality and warmth.
CIDA-E had the honor to incorporate him as a Corresponding Member in 1985, and, since then, a fluid relationship between Prof. Christol and our Research Center took place.
His last contribution to our Center was a very kind message he sent in order to be included in the book CIDA-E edited last year in Homage of Dr. Eduardo D. Gaggero, in which he recalls the time when they met and his visit to Uruguay.
Undoubtedly, the international space community has lost a brilliant and eminent jurist. Prof. Christol has left us, as a legacy, all his important doctrinal work that will always be an essential source of knowledge for all those linked to the study of space issues.
Marta Gaggero
Centro de Investigación y Difusión Aeronáutico-Espacial
Montevideo
Uruguay
I would like to extend to the family and friends of Professor Carl Q. Christol my deepest and sincerest sympathy for your loss. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend the memorial service for a reason that resonates deeply with the legacy and personal connection that Professor Christol extended to me over the years – namely, for the reason that I am presenting an academic paper about the law of outer space and the challenges for the future of outer space governance in Portland, Oregon at the Western Political Science Association – almost exactly 30 years to the day that I attended a similar panel chaired by Professor Christol in San Diego on the topic of space law.
Quite simply, Professor Christol's sense of commitment to public service and perhaps even more importantly, his sense of fun, were some of the reasons his influence was so crucial to my successful completion of my doctoral dissertation (even though I was not even a student at USC) and my eventual professional and academic career both in Washington, D.C., and at California State University, Long Beach.
In late 1981, after reading many of Professor Christol's articles on space law, I decided that I needed to interview this expert and since he was at USC, this was possible as the trip to USC represented a drive that my beat-up Chevy Nova could probably handle from Santa Barbara. On the day of the appointment I went to his office and met this charming gentleman who instantly put me at ease. His first question quite surprised me at the time, "so tell me, why did you choose a dissertation on space law?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye. And with that began a conversation that was entirely unique to me for up to that time, I had never had until that day an actual opportunity to say out loud words like "geostationary orbit" or "COPUOS" or "C-band." I still remember how it felt to enunciate those syllables after so many months of confinement due to lack of conversation partners who had any idea about what I wanted to talk about. Now I did.
And then Professor Christol changed my life. He asked me if I were going that next summer to UNISPACE '82. "It would be the best place to conduct your research and interviews with the world experts on satellite communications and the geostationary orbit and radio spectrum resources." "No," I replied, "I didn't see any possibility of getting in." Professor Christol then gave me the tip of a lifetime: "If you can find someone who can certify on letterhead that you are a journalist covering the conference, you can get in." "Wow," I thought – since I was playing on a UCSB softball team that featured an editor who worked with the weekly throw-away advertising broadsheet, "The Goleta Valley News," Christol's suggestion might just work!
Months later, quivering with nervousness as I walked past the stern-looking Austrian guards carrying machine guns at the entrance to the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, I presented a letter from theGoleta Valley News and walked out with an official UN UNISPACE press credential – my badge for access to the Mother Lode of primary sources about all aspects of outer space policy and law. Later that evening, guiltily looking forward as an impoverished graduate student to scarfing down free food provided by the Austrian Press Association at their welcoming reception, I sat down at a table with another youngish person also sporting a press badge. He looked at my badge and I looked at his, "a-ha, another American" I said. "Yes, but to be honest I am not really a journalist" he answered. "Heck, neither am I!" I responded. That person was Richard DalBello and so started a personal and professional friendship that continues to this day – a continuing legacy of the mentorship of Professor Carl Q. Christol – whose contribution to my life I give thanks for every day that I think about the passion of my professional life and every evening that I look out at the stars. Thank you Carl Christol, thank you.
Larry F. Martinez, Professor
Department of Political Science
California State University, Long Beach
It is with great sadness that I learnt of the demise of our dear friend and colleague Prof. Carl Christol. I have known him nearly half a century. My first acquaintance was when I was a student at McGill University and he was a visiting lecturer. It was on that occasion that I began admiring his intellect. My admiration of his intellect and scholarship grew with each and every contact I had with him. I vividly remember the years when he so kindly invited me to be a speaker at his annual symposia on space law and policy at USC. Ideas generated at those discussions, that he initiated, often ended up being considered in diplomatic negotiations at the United Nations where treaties relating to space law were being formulated at the time.
He was a prolific writer with an incisive mind and uncompromising scholarship. His seminal work 'Modern International law of Outer Space' was considered by diplomats, professors, practitioners and students as the bible that every one needed to constantly consult. It was my great privilege to have worked cliosely with him as members of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Space (IISL). During the period that I was President of the Board, I found his advice and support to be indispensable. While his outstanding work in the field of space law will endure to guide many generations of space lawyers, there is no doubt that with his passing the space law community has lost a giant in the field.
Nandi.Jasentuliyana
President Emeritus, International Institute of Space Law (IISL). Former, Deputy Director-General, United Nations Office at Vienna and Director United Nations
I am very surprised to hear professor Christol's passing away.
The professor was one of the leaders who had contributed to the space law development. He left a lot of academic achievement that ties together actual space utilization and legal theory.
I here wish to express my gratitude for having gotten a lot of guidance from him. The Professor's spirit has been succeeded by a lot of researchers.
Please sleep restfully.
HASHIMOTO, Yasuaki
Professor
The National Institute for Defense Studies
Japan
It is with deep sorrow and concern, that I have to learn about the death of the most important and original Space Lawyer, namely Prof. Carl Christol.
Christol was not only an excellent professor, but one of the founding members of the International Institute of Space Law, the members of which will always remember him with admiration and gratitude.
In everlasting friendship and respect
Dr. Ernst Fasan,
Hon Director of IISL
Neunkirchen
Austria
Kindly accept my heartfelt condolence for the passing away of our
very beloved and respected member of the IISL, Prof. Dr. Carl Q. Christol.
We met during the Turin IAF Congress in 1998. Fortunately, we were in the same hotel. I have been keeping in touch with him until his death. He was a very kind hearted
father and friend to me.
May God comfort and strengthen his family, friends and colleagues during this
period of mourning.
And may his noble and precious soul rest in peace with the Lord. Amen.
Maurice N. Andem (Prof. Dr.)
The death of Carl Christol is a great loss to the community of space law - he was an outstanding pioneer of space law. The last time I met Carl Christol was at the IAC three years ago. I was pleased with his activity and the energy of a 95 year old Carl. His amazing energy surprised me as early as in 1978 when I first met Carl Christol in Montreal. He came to lecture at the McGill Institute, bring his skis with him. I was tied with Carl by mutual sympathy. He wrote an interesting review on my space law textbook for New York University. . I will keep in the bottom of my heart the image of Carl Christol as an eminent and an outstanding personality of our time. I express my deep condolences to the family of Carl Christol.
Prof. Gennady Zhukov
Professor Christol was a very a great authority in Space Law whose books and writings I used at Golden Gate University School of Law over my so many years of teaching the course. He will be missed very much. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Chris Okeke
Please express my sympathy to the family of Professor Christol
abraços saudosos
Maria Helena Rolim
I deeply regret the passing away of the oustanding Professor Carl Q. Christol.I really admired his work, writings and perseverance very much. In many opportunities he was an obligatory frame of reference to my discussions at the UN.
Ambassador Raimundo González Aninat
I first encountered Carl Christol's work when I was doing my Master's degree research. When I got to know him, he always made me feel like a member of the community - more than I deserved. What a wonderful gentleman and scholar. I'm privileged to have known him.
JoAnn Clayton Townsend
I will never forget my first attendance to the IISL’s colloquia. It was in October 2001, in Toulouse, France, just one month after the tragic September 11th. I had never made a presentation in English and I was really nervous. In my paper I was arguing the importance of the signature of the Registration Convention by Brazil. Since I was not confident to say any word that was not written in my notes, I read all my presentation. When the chairman gave the floor to the audience, Prof. Christol stood up and made me a question. I did not know him well at that time, but his figure expressed intelligence and authority. I barely understood what he asked, and in an attempt to gather more time, I asked him to repeat his question. He would like to know how the signature of the Registration Convention could improve space activities in Brazil. I had a lot of things to say, but the words simply did not leave my mouth. It was my first time and I was terrified. Realizing that he had put me in an embarrassing situation, Prof. Christol took the floor again and said that he recognized that his question was too wide e proposed to discuss the subject out of the session. I was impressed and thankful for his sensibility. Since then, my admiration and respect for Prof. Christol has been growing. He joins in one single man: authority and humility, knowledge and eagerness to learn, complexity and simplicity... He will always be part of my history as a space lawyer.
Álvaro Fabricio dos Santos
São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
I was saddened to read of Carl Christol's death. I met him at Malaga (I think) in '89. We were both having a late breakfast in an otherwise empty hotel restaurant, and I ventured to say 'hello'. He was kindness itself to someone who was a newcomer to the IILS. His writing was, of course, major in the development of space law, and is justifiably recognized as such. I learned much from his articles and that early book.
F. Lyall
The IISL has lost one of its most important members. Professor Christol's books have been and will be studied by generations of students of space law and policy. Especially his "Modern International Law of Outer Space" is a must read for every space lawyer. He contributed each year to the Colloquia of the IISL, and published papers in the IISL Proceedings up until last year. I remember when he last came to the Colloquium in Valencia, Spain in 2006, it was wonderful to have him with us. His papers always addressed topical issues, like the weaponization of space, debris, or remote sensing as a tool in the field of global warming or hurricanes, presented in a clear, direct and captivating way.
The Institute honoured him with its highest award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, in 1998 in Melbourne, Australia.
His wisdom will be missed, and so will his friendship. But his legacy will live on, we will not forget him.
Tanja Masson-Zwaan, IISL President