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<ul><li>India is currently processing its ‘Space Activities Bill’ to align its liability in outer space with international standards. </li><li>This means that in case any Indian space objects cause damage to another, natural or man-made, object in space, India will have a financial plan in place. </li><li>It can also be construed as a contingency plan against the overcrowding in space and the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (<keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>) increasing ambitious plans for the future. </li></ul>The Earth’s orbit is getting <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/musk-space-x-starlink-satellite-train-could-block-telescopes-view-of-outer-space/articleshow/69571504.cms">more crowded</a> by the day and since outer space is a ‘shared’ space, countries have be held liable for any damage that they may cause in that expanse. The Indian government, as a member of the UN Treaties on Outer Space activities, is currently processing a ‘<a href="http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1575742">Space Activities Bill</a>’, which will address liability if any, for damages caused by its activities or objects in space. The aim is to keep the rules and regulations at par with i<a href="http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/space_law">nternational standards</a> currently in place. But, it might not be the best news for private players who will now have to seek authorization from the Indian government for a license to operate in space, which will only be issued contingent certain terms and conditions. Controversy over India’s ASAT test The bill is currently under pre-legislative consultations in India but should it become law, it will outline the lability provisions and how to secure the requisite financial compensation should any damages occur. Recently, India <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-asat-mission-shakti-creates-space-debris/articleshow/68594904.cms">tested its anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon</a> resulting in an international outcry about the potential damage that could occur from the resulting debris. While most experts have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/nasa-comments-on-mission-shakti-impacts-mission-ganganyaan/articleshow/68682092.cms">determined</a> that, since the test was done in low earth orbit, it doesn’t present a real threat — some are still worried about the debris putting the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/nasa-comments-on-mission-shakti-impacts-mission-ganganyaan/articleshow/68682092.cms">International Space Station at risk.</a> International standards Even though one of the ‘five UN treaties on outer space’ is the Liability Convention, it's up to individual countries to implement that rules in their own national legislation. <a href="http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/outerspacetreaty.html#a7">Article 7</a> of the Outer Space Treaty specifies that it’s not just about damage in space but also the moon and other celestial bodies that are included in the paradigm on the Liability Convention — including the Earth. So even if something goes wrong during the launch of a space object that damages the surface of the Earth, the country responsible will be held liable. Also, ‘<a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/Conv_International_Liab_Damage.pdf">damage</a>’ includes everything from loss of life to minor injuries as well as the loss of property, natural or man made. India’s move can be construed as a contingency plan on how to secure funds should it be accused on any damage in space. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is getting more ambitious with its upcoming moon mission, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-why-indias-isro-is-going-to-the-moon/articleshow/69893150.cms">Chandrayaan-2</a>, in July, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-pads-up-to-make-indias-manned-mission-into-space-a-reality/articleshow/64887057.cms">human spaceflight</a> planned for 2022 and even <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-space-station-plan-by-isro-plans-k-sivan/articleshow/69775780.cms">its own space station</a> — which also means that its taking on more risk. An exigency like the Space Activities Bill is cushion to help prepare India for any accidents that may occur. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/nasa-comments-on-mission-shakti-impacts-mission-ganganyaan/articleshow/68682092.cms" style="">NASA slams India's anti-satellite test, may pull support from mission Gaganyaan</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-chandrayaan-2-is-landmark-moon-mission-for-india/articleshow/69842571.cms" style="">India's second moon mission Chandrayaan-2 that will cost ₹10 billion will break new records</a>

India’s new ‘Space Activities Bill’ will fix the liability for damage caused in outer space

<ul><li>India successfully conducted its first anti-satellite (ASAT) missile weapon test yesterday.</li><li>The other super powers — Russia, the US and China — also have this capability.</li><li>The current treaties in place do not specify when and how the use of these weapons is justified.</li></ul>India just conducted its first test using anti-satellite (ASAT) missile weapon called ‘<keyword id="3384000" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mission-Shakti">Mission Shakti</keyword>’. Donald Trump, the US president, is calling for a ‘Space Force’. And, space technology — preventive or offensive or benign — has become an integral instrument for the functioning of daily life. It’s not quite an arms race when only four countries — Russia, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-asat-mission-shakti-creates-space-debris/articleshow/68594904.cms">India</a>, China and <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/donald-trump-calls-for-space-force/article26653520.ece">the US</a>, the supposed space ‘superpowers’ — are building up their technology, that too years apart. But, it is a cause for concern if other countries follow in their footsteps — especially in light of the fact that there are no terms of agreement in place for the use of ASATs. The <keyword id="489898" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Outer-Space-Treaty">Outer Space Treaty</keyword>, formally the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, does not <a href="https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/453/">address</a> the use of ASATs either. “If more and more countries come up with this technology, there may be an arms race. But, India will not be triggering factor. But, India might be an excuse,” Kumar Abhijeet, a member of the International Institute of Space Law, told Business Insider. He goes on to say, “Nowhere is ASAT testing prohibited. We are very much within the international laws to make use of it.” So, while testing of ASATs doesn’t violate any international treaty, there is little information around when the use of ASAT may be permitted. So far, whenever the technology has been tested, it’s only be used to take out a country’s own satellite. 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="So far, whether its India, China, US or Russia, all of these have demonstrated ASAT capabilities with the destruction of their own satellites. None of these states have targeting satellite from other countries." auname="Kumar Abhijeet, Member of the International Institute of Space Law and Research Scholar at the Institute of Air and Space Law"></div>











 But, in reality, an ASAT can take out any kind of satellite. What matters is the intention behind the attack. According to Abhijeet, “If there is proof that a satellite is being used to spy and that there is a threat to the national security or if there is a threat of any kind of armed attack - then a preemptive attack can be made.” He goes on to explain, “The treaty doesn’t say anything with regard to that. But then, whenever there is a necessity — necessity knows no boundary. Particularly in the national interest if anything is there — a country can do that.” While India maintains that they have no intention of weaponizing the space race, its neighboring nations have perceived the progress of Mission Shakti in a different way. 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="For India, the objective is preemptive. The geopolitical strategy which is prevailing between the countries, our neighbors being Pakistan and China, it has become a necessity for the defence sector to develop those capabilities." auname="Kumar Abhijeet, Member of the International Institute of Space Law and Research Scholar at the Institute of Air and Space Law"></div>











 Brian Weeden, the director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation took to Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/brianweeden/status/1110898862624071682">asking</a> if any commercial space companies would be interesting in taking a stand and boycotting the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV). 
	<div type="twitter" handle="brianweeden" handlename="brianweeden" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/609770691576135680/jqXW8y5R_normal.jpg" favoritecount="55" retweetcount="16" status="/21 So I wonder if any commercial space companies are willing to take a stand on this and boycott the PSLV to send… https://t.co/6vgCrunt4Z" createdat="1553693903000" id="1110898862624071682"></div>



 Though he later <a href="https://spacenews.com/reactions-to-indian-asat/">clarified</a> that he was only fostering responsible behavior by asking companies to analyse the role that they want to play in the peaceful use of resources in outer space. Pakistan is calling for the international community to condemn the act while China took a more subtle approach stating, “We have noticed reports and hope that each country will uphold peace and tranquillity in outer space.” The ambiguities about space law and its enforceability can lead to uncertainty for stakeholders. The U.N. chief, Antonio Guterres, has already <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1033512">expressed</a> his cynicism stating, “Key components of the international arms control architecture are collapsing,” with respect to global disarmament efforts. Although <keyword id="7471230" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="war-in-space">war in space</keyword> isn’t a phenomenon just yet, it is both, a grim reality and a technological feat, that countries are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-race-to-become-the-next-space-superpower-lands-china-on-the-dark-side-of-the-moon/articleshow/67364186.cms">arming</a> themselves with ASATs to show that they are ready to counter any threats from outer space. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/prime-minister-modi-in-his-live-address-says-indian-scientists-shot-down-a-low-orbit-satellite-300-km-away-in-space/articleshow/68593276.cms">India enters an elite club after scientists shoot down a low orbit satellite 300 km away in space</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Indias-test-of-its-anti-satellite-weapon-may-have-weakened-its-fight-against-dangerous-space-debris/articleshow/68594904.cms">India's test of its anti-satellite weapon may have weakened its fight against dangerous space debris</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-race-to-become-the-next-space-superpower-lands-china-on-the-dark-side-of-the-moon/articleshow/67364186.cms">The race to become the next space ‘superpower’ lands China on the ‘dark side’ of the moon</a>

It might be time for ‘space superpowers’ to bring in a new space treaty

<ul><li>India just tested is anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) by taking down a live satellite in low earth orbit. </li><li>While this may make India a 'space power', it weakens its fight against dangerous space debris.</li><li>In the past, Russian satellites have been destroyed by space debris that was left behind by China's testing of its ASAT.</li></ul>India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, just announced the successful test of India’s anti-satellite weapon (ASAT). In his address to the nation, where he highlighted India’s entry to the club of the world’s space powers — he left out any mention of the resulting space debris. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Chowkidar Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/718314968102367232/ypY1GPCQ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="30875" retweetcount="10983" status="In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations… https://t.co/nrGnTyDXdh" createdat="1553670539000" id="1110800868058660864"></div>















 And, while this gambit adds India to the list of the select few nations to have done so successfully, it’s out of place with India’s role as a member of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="&quot;A similar test by China in 2007 has left behind a lot of debris which is still floating around.&quot;" auname="Ajay Lele, Senior Fellow with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)"></div>















 As a member of IADC, such a test by India could undermine the country’s credibility in the arena. India is also a signatory of the Outer Space Treaty which prohibits the use of weapons in space and requires nations to take steps to mitigate space debris. With respect to the first part Kumar Abhijeet, a member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) clarifies, "If we look up the international treaty. Nowhere is ASAT testing prohibited. We are very much within the international laws to make use of it." But, in cases where space debris is created, nations are under the obligation to pay compensation for any damages that arise from it. 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="We are well within the norms, but if at all there any debris that has been created, since we are a part of international treaties, we owe the liability as well." auname="Kumar Abhijeet, Member of the International Institute of Space Law and Research Scholar at the Institute of Air and Space Law"></div>









 When China <a href="https://swfound.org/media/9550/chinese_asat_fact_sheet_updated_2012.pdf">tested</a> its ASAT capabilities back in 2007, the test left behind 2,500 to 3,000 pieces of dangerous space debris in Earth’s low earth orbit (LEO). And despite never ending perception of space, debris in that particular region is a threat to other satellites. A Russian satellite was one such <a href="https://www.space.com/20138-russian-satellite-chinese-space-junk.html">victim</a> in 2013, when a piece of space debris struck the body of the satellite, destroying it. And, the question is not solely about space debris destroying other satellites. It's also about how space debris can result in more space debris as it knocks into older objects left behind in space. The true danger is that some of these pieces of debris are so small that it's nearly impossible to track them. Unlike China, where the test was conducted at an altitude of 800 km, India's ASAT test was conducted only 300 km above the Earth where the probability of space debris is unlikely. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="Debris also depends on where we’re doing the test. In China’s case, they did it at 800kms — we’ve conducted ours at 300kms. The debris will most likely burn up in the atmosphere. So there is minimum chance of debris being created." auname="Kumar Abhijeet, Member of the International Institute of Space Law and Research Scholar at the Institute of Air and Space Law"></div>













 'Operation Burn Frost' was conducted in a similar manner at an altitude of 240km. Even then, while most of the debris managed to fall back to Earth within a year, a few pieces were still blasted to a higher orbit. To prove it’s military might in space, India had the option of <a href="https://defenceupdate.in/space-war-indias-anti-satellite-weapons/">conducting</a> a fly-by test where, instead of destroying a live satellite, the missile would just glide past. A former Integrated Defence Staff Lieutenant General, HS Lidder, saw this coming when he <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25216230/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/indian-army-wants-military-space-program/">said</a>, “With time, we will get sucked into the military race to protect space assets and inevitably there will be a military contest in space. In a life and death scenario, space will provide the advantage.” See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/prime-minister-modi-in-his-live-address-says-indian-scientists-shot-down-a-low-orbit-satellite-300-km-away-in-space/articleshow/68593276.cms">Indian enters an elite space club after scientists shoot down a low orbit satellite 300 km away in space, says Prime Minister Modi</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-is-to-trying-to-beat-elon-musks-spacex-success/articleshow/67550362.cms">India’s apex space agency is following Elon Musk's idea — and taking it a step forward</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-nasa-just-spotted-a-black-hole-spinning-so-fast-that-it-could-be-making-space-itself-rotate/articleshow/66416605.cms">ISRO, NASA just spotted a black hole spinning so fast that it could be making space itself rotate</a>

India's test of its anti-satellite weapon may have weakened its fight against dangerous space debris

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6362444" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="pentagon">Pentagon</keyword> told the Senate Armed Services Committee that India's anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons test was only conducted because the country is "concerned about threats" from outer space.</li><li>Previously the Pentagon had assessed the debris fallout from the ASAT test determining that most of it will burn up in the atmosphere within a couple of months. </li><li>Even so, there are many that condemn India's actions and believe that the test was a threat to peaceful cooperation in outer space.</li></ul>The <keyword id="6602687" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-States-Department-of-Defense">United States Department of Defense</keyword> — the Pentagon — <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/pentagon-defends-indias-asat-test-before-powerful-senate-panel-says-country-faces-threats-in-space-2099533.html">defended</a> India's test of its anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee, asserting that the South Asian nation is justifiably "concerned about threats" from space. 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="The first lesson from the Indian ASAT is just the simple question of why did they do that. And the answer should be, I think to all the committee looking at it, is that they did that because they are concerned about threats to their nation from space." auname="US Strategic Command Commander General John E Hyten told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee"></div>



 While the ASAT test was a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/prime-minister-modi-in-his-live-address-says-indian-scientists-shot-down-a-low-orbit-satellite-300-km-away-in-space/articleshow/68593276.cms">point of pride</a> for India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, reactions around the world were not as supportive as the Pentagon. Last week, the Department of Defense had to <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-india-debris/pentagon-says-india-debris-expected-to-burn-up-in-atmosphere-idINKCN1RG22J">determine</a> that the debris fall out from the test would burn in the atmosphere eventually after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (<keyword id="6360409" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nasa">NASA</keyword>) <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/nasa-comments-on-mission-shakti-impacts-mission-ganganyaan/articleshow/68682092.cms">slammed</a> India for being irresponsible. NASA administrator, <keyword id="4956577" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jim-Bridenstine">Jim Bridenstine</keyword>, subsequently resumed cooperation with the Indian Space Research Organisation (<keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>) after having called the test a "terrible, terrible thing" and stating <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Indias-test-of-its-anti-satellite-weapon-may-have-weakened-its-fight-against-dangerous-space-debris/articleshow/68594904.cms">leftover debris</a> threatens human space flight activities, especially around the International Space Station (ISS). 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="But as we've said previously, we have a strong strategic partnership with India, and we will continue to pursue shared interests in space, in scientific and technical cooperation with India, and that includes collaboration on safety and security in space." auname="NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine"></div>



 Director of Program Planning at the Secure World Foundation, Brian Weeden, took to Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/brianweeden/status/1110898862624071682">asking</a> if commercial space companies are willing to take a stand and boycott India's polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV). Later, he <a href="https://spacenews.com/reactions-to-indian-asat/">clarified</a> that he was just fostering responsible behaviour in space by pushing companies to think about the role they want to play. 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="(Companies) should probably consider the behavior of all countries pushing the space arms race. India is only the latest, but by no means the only one." auname="Director of Program Planning at the Secure World Foundation, Brian Weeden"></div>



 Even a long-term ISRO partner, Planet Labs, <a href="http://v">issued</a> a statement saying that while they enjoyed the working relationship between the two organisations, they "categorically condemn" the ASAT test. India maintains that it did not violate any international laws in conducting its satellite test. When announcing the success of the ASAT test, Modi stated, "I want to assure the world today that it was not directed against anybody. India has always been against arms race in space and there has been no change in this policy." See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-asat-test-marks-time-for-nations-to-make-new-space-treaty/articleshow/68607435.cms">It might be time for ‘space superpowers' to bring in a new space treaty</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/nasa-comments-on-mission-shakti-impacts-mission-ganganyaan/articleshow/68682092.cms">NASA slams India's anti-satellite test, may pull support from mission Gaganyaan</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Indias-test-of-its-anti-satellite-weapon-may-have-weakened-its-fight-against-dangerous-space-debris/articleshow/68594904.cms">India's test of its anti-satellite weapon may have weakened its fight against dangerous space debris</a>

Pentagon defends India's ASAT test in front US military oversight committee

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In 1967, 112 nations signed the <a href="https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introouterspacetreaty.html">Outer Space Treaty</a> that laid the foundation for international space law.</li><li>There are no known instances of anyone being charged with committing a crime in space.</li></ul>Despite the popular conception of space as a lawless frontier, it turns out you're still beholden to the authorities when you leave Earth.There are no known instances of anyone being charged with a crime committed in space. But as space becomes increasingly accessible, unlawful behaviors that regularly occur on Earth will likely accompany humans blasting off into the cosmos.<h1><div type="image" title="On Oct. 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 successfully launched and entered Earth's orbit." height="1194" width="1200" msid="95473492" hostid="261" sizebytes="206756"></div></h1>Still, the laws on the books are decades old and hard to enforce. In 1967, more than 100 nations signed the <a href="https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introouterspacetreaty.html">Outer Space Treaty</a> — essentially, the Magna Carta of space law. The document is heavy on broad principles, but light on specifics.Broadly, it states that space should be free for use by all nations and that celestial bodies like the moon should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes.It also bans one nation from claiming outer space and celestial bodies. That's why <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-83/pdf/STATUTE-83-Pg196.pdf">Congress passed a law</a> in November 1969 affirming that the Apollo 11 mission planting a flag on the moon was a "a symbolic gesture of national pride in achievement," and not the US staking a claim on it.While the treaty is difficult to enforce, if a country, individual, or company were to violate the guidelines — say, by launching a nuclear weapon in space or planting a flag on an asteroid and calling it their own — other spacefaring nations could sanction them.<div type="image" title="The signing of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967." height="807" width="1200" msid="95473494" hostid="261" sizebytes="116382"></div>While there are no known criminal charges in space or convictions to date, that could change with more commercial and private actors in space.<a href="https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/astat/sc-2022-c-10/latest/sc-2022-c-10.html">On June 23</a>, lawmakers in Canada passed a law that would allow the government to charge Canadian astronauts for crimes committed on the moon.From destructive missile tests to missing a tax deadline to go on a last-minute mission, here's how space law has been tested thus far.<h1>1. Russia's anti-satellite missile tests created a dangerous cloud of debris</h1><div type="image" title="This telescope image shows debris from the Cosmos 1408 debris cloud shortly after destruction by impact with Russia's anti-satellite weapon. The image was taken on November 15, 2021" height="1552" width="2560" msid="95473497" hostid="261" sizebytes="589812"></div>The law: The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which states that parties should conduct all their activities in outer space "with due regard" to other spacefaring partiesHow it was tested: Russia deliberately destroyed its own satellite, creating long-lived orbital debris that imperils surrounding satellites and crewed space stationsSeveral governments have tested anti-satellite weapons that leave behind <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/falling-space-junk-spacex-nasa-china-foreshadow-increasing-injury-risk-2022-8">trails of space debris</a> in orbit.In November 2021, Russia conducted <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-condemns-irresponsible-russian-anti-satellite-test-threatening-space-station-2021-11">an anti-satellite weapon test</a> that deliberately struck Cosmos 1408, one of its own satellites, which had been inoperable for years. The defunct satellite blew into thousands of pieces that continue to orbit Earth, increasing the risk that the debris could one day damage satellites or crewed vehicles. On October 24, the International Space Station (ISS) had to move to dodge a piece of space junk from Russia's Cosmos 1408 satellite, according to <a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2022/10/24/space-station-maneuvers-to-avoid-orbital-debris/">NASA.</a>Various forms of anti-satellite tests have been conducted since 1959 by the United States, Russia, China, and India, according to a <a href="https://swfound.org/news/all-news/2020/06/swf-releases-updated-compilation-of-anti-satellite-testing-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">database compiled by the Secure World Foundation</a>. Last year, the US became the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/18/fact-sheet-vice-president-harris-advances-national-security-norms-in-space/">first space-faring nation to declare a ban</a> on anti-satellite weapons testing.<h1>2. Cleared of accessing an ex-wife's bank account 240 miles above Earth's surface</h1><div type="image" title="NASA astronaut Anne McClain, a member of the International Space Station (ISS) expedition 58/59, gestures as she boards the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft shortly before the launch at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on December 3, 2018." height="2380" width="3500" msid="95473499" hostid="261" sizebytes="762194"></div>The law: Identity theft and improper access to private financial recordsHow it was tested: A NASA astronaut was accused of accessing her ex-wife's bank account while living on the ISSIn 2019, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-astronaut-ex-wife-bank-account-crime-charged-2020-4">NASA astronaut Anne McClain</a> was accused of committing the first crime in space.During McClain's stay aboard the ISS from December 2018 to June 2019, the American astronaut's estranged wife accused McClain of using a NASA-affiliated computer to illegally sign into her personal bank accounts, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/23/us/astronaut-space-investigation.html">The New York Times reported</a>.The ISS has its own intergovernmental agreement that the project's partner nations signed in 1998. It states that each country involved in the ISS has criminal jurisdiction over its own personnel in space, as long as the victim is not an individual from another country who is also in space.NASA defended McClain's reputation before launching an investigation into the incident — ultimately finding that the claims against McClain were false. McClain's ex-wife, who filed the accusations with the Federal Trade Commission, was later charged with <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/woman-charged-falsely-claiming-officer-accessed-her-bank-account-international-space">two counts of making false statements</a> to federal authorities.<h1>3. Missing a tax deadline due to a last-minute space voyage</h1><div type="image" title="Jack Swigert during in an astronaut suit, before forgetting to file his taxes." height="1294" width="1024" msid="95473500" hostid="261" sizebytes="93184"></div>The law: US tax lawHow it was tested: An Apollo astronaut missed the April 15 tax filing deadline in the 1970s, after blasting off into space at the last minuteIn 1970, Jack Swigert, an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/4-lessons-entrepreneurs-can-learn-from-nasa-engineers-apollo-13-2021-3">Apollo 13</a> astronaut, realized he hadn't filed his income taxes in time for the April 15 cutoff. There was one problem: He was already in space.Swigert was a last-minute addition to the Apollo 13 crew. Because he had to scramble after another astronaut was medically disqualified from the mission, he didn't file his taxes before leaving."Uh oh; have you guys completed your income tax?" Swigert asked mission control, according to the <a href="https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a13/AS13_TEC.txt">official NASA transcript</a>. Mission control erupted in laughter, to which Swigert replied: "It ain't too funny; things kind of happened real fast down there, and I do need an extension."Ultimately, Swigert was granted an extension by the Internal Revenue Service, since he was technically "out of the country."

What happens if you break the law in space — and 3 times people or governments have tested the rules

(Photo Source: Wikimedia.org) <ul><li>The government of the state of <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> in India will allow its residents to directly inspect records of all district level offices and local government bodies for two hours every Monday, according to reports. </li><li>State residents reportedly won’t need to pay any fee or file a Right to Information (<keyword id="6356198" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="RTI">RTI</keyword>) application to get access to public records. They can directly visit the office and look at the records. </li><li>The government’s resolution is however not applicable to the state secretariat because of lack of space.</li></ul>Residents of Maharashtra, India, can now check records of all government department and local bodies by visiting government offices during a two-hour window every week. The move is part of a recent <a href="https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/1145/Government-Resolutions">resolution </a>passed by the <keyword id="6356172" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra-government">Maharashtra government</keyword> under India’s Right to Information (RTI) laws, the Indian Express <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-allows-citizens-to-inspect-goverment-records-under-rti-5475515/">reported</a>. The resolution is aimed at bringing transparency to government operations and cut the load of RTI applications filed with authorities, said the report citing a senior government official. State residents will not have to pay any fee or file an RTI application. They can reportedly directly visit the office and look at the records. All district-level offices and local bodies such as municipal corporations and councils have been instructed to stay open for inspection between 3 pm to 5 pm every Monday. A formal order was issued on 26 November, according to the Indian Express report. In case of a public holiday, citizens will be permitted to inspect records on the next working day. However, the state secretariat of Maharashtra will not participate in the move because of space constraints. In 2009, the Pune Municipal Corporation also opened its offices for public inspection, with the Pune Civic body allowing residents to also get a stamped copy of the records, according to the report. India passed the “Right to information” laws in 2005, granting its citizens the means to access information that is under the control of any public authority.

‘No need for RTI application’: Residents in this Indian state can now visit any government office and check official records once a week

<keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> on Thursday announced its live audio conversation app Spaces is now available from <keyword id="154909" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Desktop">desktop</keyword> and <keyword id="481402" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mobile-Web-browsers">mobile web browsers</keyword>. Previously, the Clubhouse-like audio meet app, Spaces was only available via iOS and Android apps. "Spaces are making their way to Twitter for web! Now you can join a Space to listen in, test out the new transcription design, and set reminders to join a scheduled Space," The micro-blogging platform said in a tweet. Spaces will be available on https://Twitter.com (mobile web and desktop web). The focus areas will be infrastructure and listening UI that adapts to screen size, setting reminders for scheduled spaces and accessibility and transcriptions, the company said. Taking on invite-only audio chat app <keyword id="1293839" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="clubhouse">Clubhouse</keyword>, Twitter earlier this month announced to make Spaces available to users with 600 followers or more on both iOS and Android platforms. The company said it is also working on '<keyword id="11197907" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticketed-spaces">Ticketed Spaces</keyword>' feature for <keyword id="47541" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="hosts">hosts</keyword> to be rewarded for the experiences they create by getting monetary support, while providing listeners with exclusive access to the conversations they care about most. Hosts can set ticket prices and how many are available to sell. A limited group will be able to host Ticketed Spaces in the coming months. Hosts earn the majority of the revenue from ticket sales and Twitter will keep a small amount as well. To make it easy to track what's happening and when, you'll also be able to schedule and set reminders for upcoming Spaces in the coming weeks. After first testing Spaces with a small group of people on iOS, Twitter in March expanded the test to Android users in <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>, to give them a chance to join, listen, and speak in live, host-moderated audio conversations. SEE ALSO <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-moves-the-delhi-high-court-against-indias-new-it-laws-says-report/articleshow/82965251.cms">WhatsApp moves the Delhi High Court against India’s new IT laws, says report</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/cyclone-yaas-will-unleash-its-fury-for-another-12-to-18-hours-after-making-landfall/articleshow/82964922.cms">Cyclone Yaas will unleash its fury for another 12 to 18 hours after making landfall</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-is-giving-away-9000-worth-google-stadia-bundle-for-free-but-its-not-available-in-india/articleshow/82965884.cms">OnePlus is giving away ₹9,000 worth Google Stadia bundle for free – but it’s not available in India</a>

Twitter’s Clubhouse-competitor Spaces now available on desktop and mobile browsers

<ul><li>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) claims that India's test of their anti-satellite weapon is a "terrible, terrible thing."</li><li>The head of NASA stated, "That kind of activity is not compatible with the future of human spaceflight."</li><li>But, most experts feel like since the test was conducted at an altitude of 250kms, it's unlikely to be a threat to the <keyword id="6382020" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-space-station">International Space Station</keyword> (ISS).</li></ul>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has strongly criticised <keyword id="3384000" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mission-Shakti">Mission Shakti</keyword>, India's anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon test, saying the debris from the explosion endangers the International Space Station (ISS). According to NASA, the risk of collision of the debris with the International Space Station (ISS) has increased by 44% over the last 10 days. "What we are tracking right now, objects big enough to track — we're talking about 10 centimeters (six inches) or bigger — about 60 pieces have been tracked," Jim Bridenstine, the administrator of NASA said in an announcement to his employees. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="That is a terrible, terrible thing to create an event that sends debris at an apogee that goes above the International Space Station: That kind of activity is not compatible with the future of human spaceflight." auname="Jim Bridenstine, administrator of NASA"></div>

















 This may put India's collaboration with US on <keyword id="7168485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mission-Gaganyaan">Mission Gaganyaan</keyword>, the Indian human spaceflight programme, in jeopardy. Bridentstine and the <keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword> Chairman, K Sivan, were <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/us-india-collaboration-gaganyaan-manned-space-mission-charles-bolden-1474207-2019-03-09">reportedly</a> in talks about forming a working group to work exclusively on the project. It may also push India towards cementing its <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/russia-commits-full-support-to-indias-first-manned-space-mission-gaganyaan-pm-modi-5388790/">collaboration</a> with Russia for the Gaganyaan mission. India and France was already signed a memorandum of understanding where the French scientists will share their expertise to help the human space project get off the ground. Is there really a threat to the ISS? The United States Air Force (USAF) has also been tracking remnants from India's ASAT test. Lt. Gen. David Thompson, vice commander of USAF <a href="https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/03/27/u-s-military-sensors-track-debris-from-indian-anti-satellite-test/">told</a> the Senate Armed Services Committee in the US that, "they are tracking about 270 different objects in the debris field." Adding that the number will only grow as the debris spreads out and their sensors pick up more information. An <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-anti-satellite-missile-test-may-have-created-6500-eraser-size-pieces-of-space-junk-near-earth-according-to-a-new-simulation/articleshow/68639583.cms">estimated</a> 6,500 pieces of space debris as expected as a result of Mission Shakti according to a simulation created by Analytical Graphics Inc., an engineering software company that creates models of the space environment around Earth. The Indian government, on the other hand, <a href="https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/31179/Frequently_Asked_Questions_on_Mission_Shakti_Indias_AntiSatellite_Missile_test_conducted_on_27_March_2019">claims</a> that their test was specifically conducted in low Earth orbit (LEO) in order to ensure that there is no space debris created. And whatever debris may have been left behind, will eventually decay and fall back onto Earth within the span of a few weeks. Experts like Kumar Abhijeet, member of the International Institute of Space Law, also believe that the debris will most likely dissipate in the atmosphere. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="Now, debris also depends on where we’re doing the test. In China’s case, they did it at 800kms — we’ve conducted ours at 300kms. The debris will most likely burn up in the atmosphere. So there is minimum chance of debris being created." auname="Kumar Abhijeet, Member of the International Institute of Space Law and Research Scholar at the Institute of Air and Space Law"></div>

















 While China's ASAT test in 2007 might have resulted in the destruction of two Russian satellites due the debris left behind, the test was also conducted at a higher altitude of 850 kilometers. India's test, on the other hand was at an altitude of 300kms. Since it well below the 400 kms threshold, most experts are <a href="http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3686/1">claiming</a> are there is no threat to the ISS especially since the debris from the 2008 test conducted by the US at 250kms dissipated within days. Since then, the Bridenstine has had to resume <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-india-debris/pentagon-says-india-debris-expected-to-burn-up-in-atmosphere-idINKCN1RG22J">cooperation </a>with ISRO after an assessment by the Pentagon revealed that the space debris generated by India's ASAT set would dissipate within a few months and does not pose a threat to human space flight. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-asat-mission-shakti-creates-space-debris/articleshow/68594904.cms">India's test of its anti-satellite weapon may have weakened its fight against dangerous space debris</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-asat-test-marks-time-for-nations-to-make-new-space-treaty/articleshow/68607435.cms">It might be time for ‘space superpowers' to bring in a new space treaty</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/prime-minister-modi-in-his-live-address-says-indian-scientists-shot-down-a-low-orbit-satellite-300-km-away-in-space/articleshow/68593276.cms">India enters an elite club after scientists shoot down a low orbit satellite 300 km away in space</a>

NASA slams India's anti-satellite test, may pull support from mission Gaganyaan

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty ImagesAn Indian fan waves his flag as he awaits for the rain to stop during the Semi-Final ICC Women's World Cup 2017 match between Australia and India at The 3aaa County Ground on July 20, 2017 in Derby, England.</div></div></div><ul><li>India has reversed its policy requiring that the national anthem be played at theaters before a movie starts.</li><li>India established the rule in 2016. </li><li>Existing laws call for jail time for those who disrupt any performance of the anthem.</li><li>China and the Philippines have similar laws. </li></ul> India has reversed its policy requiring that the national anthem be played at theaters before a movie starts. The Supreme court ordered the termination of the policy on Tuesday in response to a request from government officials to reconsider the ruling, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-42618830">the BBC reported.</a>India had enacted the nationwide cinema policy in 2016, expanding on its <a href="http://ecourts.gov.in/sites/default/files/Act%20to%20Prevent%20Insults%20to%20National%20Honour.pdf">national anthem laws</a> which have existed since 1971. The older laws, which are still in place, require a three-year jail term for those who "prevent the singing" or cause disturbances during the anthem. Additionally, the <keyword id="6355470" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Law">law</keyword> also requires the Indian flag to be displayed and for all citizens to stand up in respect while the anthem is played.The 2016 law was praised by the ruling Hindu nationalist party, according to BBC. But the law has seen challenges.In October 2016, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-37749247">a disabled man was assaulted by other cinema attendees</a> for not standing while the anthem played onscreen.After the law was passed, <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Seven-movie-goers-booked-in-Chennai-for-%E2%80%98disrespecting%E2%80%99-national-anthem/article16795076.ece">police arrested seven people for taking selfies</a> while the anthem played in a theatre in Chennai in December 2016.The following day, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-india-national-anthem-20161214-story.html">12 moviegoers were arrested</a> for refusing to stand while the anthem played at an international film festival in the southern state of Kerala.A cinema hall in the small town of Kodungallur <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41731378">created a </a><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41731378">petition in 2017</a> urging the recall of the controversial law, stating that the law "infringes fundamental rights", and argued that theatres are "spaces that are singularly unsuited for the gravitas and sobriety that must accompany the playing of the national anthem."<h2>National anthem laws are common across Asia</h2>India is not alone in its strong national anthem policies.<a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-10/01/c_136652827.htm">China's National Anthem Law</a> was signed into action in October 2017. The law dictates the Chinese anthem must be sung at political gatherings, major celebrations, and other suitable events, and offers a penalty of up 15 days to <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-11/04/c_136728106.htm">three years in prison</a> for "distorting" the anthem. In the Philippines, <a href="http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=224806">The 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code</a> and its amendments explain, in detail, how to sing the country's anthem, including the legally enforced lyrics, key, and level of enthusiasm necessary for renditions.People who disobey the law could face a fine of up to $2,000, or imprisonment of up to one year.Experts say national anthem laws are strictly enforced in the region because the use of national symbols, like the national anthem, have more symbolic importance in Asian countries than more liberal democracies in the West.Eric Chong, who contributed to the book "Reimagining Nation and Nationalism in Multicultural East Asia," told Business Insider: "In Asia, countries tend to put emphasis on collective interests above any individual or sub-group interests, and [national] sovereignty is put at the extreme top." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nuclear-bomb-launch-procedure-us-government-president-2017-11">Here's how easy it is for the US president to launch a nuclear weapon</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

India reverses a controversial policy of playing the national anthem in movie theatres

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6355315" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="elon-musk">Elon Musk</keyword> wants to build a settlement on <keyword id="47638" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mars">Mars</keyword> using <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starship-dearmoon-crew-japanese-astronaut-soichi-noguchi-yusaku-maezawa-2020-9">Starship</a>, a new fully reusable rocket system that <keyword id="6360701" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="spacex">SpaceX</keyword> is developing to carry 100 people per flight.</li><li>SpaceX's general counsel recently said he's drafting "a constitution for Mars" and that the company may impose its "own legal regime" on the red planet.</li><li>SpaceX apparently wants Mars to be "a free planet" where "no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty," according to <keyword id="1020796" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="terms-of-service">terms of service</keyword> for <keyword id="7612156" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="starlink">Starlink</keyword>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-satellite-internet-beta-testing-public-service-licensing-military-2020-10">SpaceX's satellite-based internet service</a>.</li><li>However, Frans von der Dunk, a professor of <keyword id="969183" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="space-law">space law</keyword>, says SpaceX won't get any Martian state recognized without skillful international diplomacy and major changes to space law.</li><li>Though it's uncertain SpaceX will ever establish a Mars settlement, von der Dunk said Earth should start discussing how to handle such a future anyway. </li></ul>SpaceX may try impose its "own legal regime" on Mars and form a "self-governing," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mars-colonization-human-survival-radiation-food-biosphere-2018-4">self-sustaining settlement</a> where Earth laws wouldn't apply.Though this may sound like a page taken out of a sci-fi novel, Elon Musk's aerospace company has indicated its intentions to do just that in two recent and remarkable posts.The first is a wide-ranging <a href="https://www.law360.com/articles/1319833/spacex-gc-talks-mars-and-out-of-this-world-legal-issues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Law360 interview</a> with SpaceX general counsel David Anderman, who revealed he's drafting a constitution for Mars. The second is the terms of service for Starlink, SpaceX's new satellite-internet project, which <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/jjti2k/starlink_beta_terms_of_service/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reddit users shared</a> after receiving a public beta test invitation.But to get Earth to recognize the sovereignty of any would-be Martian state, SpaceX will have to pull off some astounding diplomacy and changes to international law, says <a href="https://law.unl.edu/frans-von-der-dunk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frans von der Dunk</a>, a leading expert of space law at Nebraska College of Law."You can come up with many interesting examples where you have people trying to call themselves a state and not being recognized," von der Dunk told Business Insider.Still, he thinks the international community should take SpaceX and its founder Elon Musk seriously — and use the moment to work out potential legal quandaries of such a fantastic human future before they're made real."We never know if it's going to work or when it's going to work," von der Dunk said of SpaceX's planned Martian settlement. "But this is certainly a serious company with serious backing and serious engineering behind it."<h2>'The parties recognize Mars as a free planet'</h2><div type="image" title="spacex mars martian colony city cities settlement starship rocket landing pads overhead glass bubble dome habitat rendering artist concept animation animated gif" height="360" width="640" msid="79025993" hostid="261"></div>Musk has for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-mars-speech-transcript-2016-9">many</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-mars-iac-2017-transcript-slides-2017-10">years</a> shared his dream of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-mars-starship-spacex-starhopper-rocket-moon-2019-6">populating Mars</a> with more than a million people. Though he wants to create cities complete with bars and pizza joints — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-mars-plan-timeline-2018-10">and quickly</a> — the tech mogul's ultimate goal is "enabling human life on Mars," ideally to back up our species from some indeterminate future catastrophe.To that end, SpaceX has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starship-mars-rocket-spaceport-flyover-pictures-boca-chica-texas-2020-7">expanded its facilities in South Texas</a> to develop and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-starship-rocket-prototype-launch-texas-2020-8">test</a> Starship, a nearly 400-foot-tall steel launch system that's fully <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-reusable-rocket-launch-costs-profits-2017-6">reusable</a>. If it works as intended, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-rocket-cargo-price-by-weight-2016-6">cost of flying anything to space</a> could shrink 100- to 1,000-fold. In line with that effort, the company has begun mulling its legal approach to rocketing colonists en masse to the red planet."Our goal is to be able to send 1,000 starships with 100 people in them every two years," Anderman told Law360, which published its interview on October 14. "We'll start with 100, then a couple hundred, then 100,000, then a million until we have a truly sustainable colony. It will happen in my lifetime. Faster than you think."When asked if US law would govern such a settlement, Anderman revealed he's helping draft "a constitution for Mars.""I think SpaceX will move to impose our own legal regime. I think it will be interesting to see how it plays out with terrestrial governments exerting control," he added. "I do think we are going to have a pretty important role to play in what works and what laws apply."About two weeks after that interview ran, several Reddit users <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/jjc270/found_a_gem_in_the_starlink_tos_the_parties/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> the terms of service for Starlink. The text contained most of what one would expect from a mundane internet service provider agreement. Yet in a section about which laws would govern use of Starlink, the document stated the following:"For Services provided on Mars, or in transit to Mars via Starship or other colonization spacecraft, the parties recognize Mars as a free planet and that no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty over Martian activities. Accordingly, Disputes will be settled through self-governing principles, established in good faith, at the time of Martian settlement."In effect, SpaceX has signaled its diplomatic intentions to make its Martians rule themselves. However, von der Dunk says the company won't pull that off without extraordinary effort on Earth. SpaceX did not immediately acknowledge Business Insider's request for comment.<h2>Right now, the US would be responsible for SpaceX's Mars settlement </h2><div type="image" title="spacex starship steel rocket planet mars martian base colony city illustration EFmQFf8UYAEIY0h" height="2305" width="4096" msid="79025996" hostid="261"></div>Mars is <a href="https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=mars+earth+mean+distance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an average</a> of 158 million miles away from Earth, making the idea of enforcing laws made on Earth, for Earth there seem potentially laughable (despite the existence of a US Space Force).Still, the <a href="http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/outer_space/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outer Space Treaty of 1967</a>, to which 110 nations are currently party — including spacefaring ones like China, India, Russia, and the US — dictates that people who leave Earth carry their national identities with them."If [SpaceX] succeeds in building settlements, [Musk] and the people living there, certainly if they are Americans, will still be falling under the US jurisdiction," von der Dunk said. "Not because it's US territory, but because they are US citizens."Additionally, Article 6 and Article 7 of the treaty make clear that a country bears the legal burden of its space activities no matter who launches or performs them. Because SpaceX is an American company <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy-new-faa-environmental-review-launch-license-2020-7">operating under American licenses</a>, the US would have to assume liability for SpaceX's hardware and actions."Imagine if [SpaceX does] something that other states could claim are violation of international law," von der Dunk said. "They don't need to try and sue SpaceX before a US court in a private capacity; they can directly accost the US government."So if anything bad happens at SpaceX's Martian settlement, the company could feel the squeeze back on Earth, to the point of potentially interfering with its settlement plans.Von der Dunk also says "there is no clear-and-fast guideline as to when you are state," but he noted international law does settle around three objective criteria: established territory, a permanent population, and a functional government.Any would-be Mars settlement would presumably fulfill the latter two requirements. But von der Dunk says the first is impossible to check off as laws are currently written. (He noted the "space kingdom" Asgardia, which announced its purported plans to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/asgardia-1-satellite-first-country-exist-space-2017-12">create a nation-state in open space</a>, is even more subject to this problem.) Specifically, Article 2 of the <keyword id="489898" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Outer-Space-Treaty">Outer Space Treaty</keyword> eschews the idea of owning territory beyond Earth, mainly to prevent nations from claiming land on heavenly bodies simply by landing probes there."That's what the Outer Space Treaty clearly prohibits," von der Dunk said. "It never thought about the possibility that you'd create a state entirely in outer space."<h2>'It is important to keep an eye on these things'</h2><div type="image" title="illustration starship spaceship rocket ship martian atmosphere atmospheric reentry heating plasma mars spacex" height="1200" width="2600" msid="79026000" hostid="261"></div>Von der Dunk says Earth's nations could move to change or do away with Article 2, or perhaps craft some legal loophole to permit SpaceX to form a self-governing Martian settlement."But I think it would be a very difficult exercise, and it certainly won't happen soon," he added. "And, as you can imagine, if this is more likely either a US territory or a territory of US citizens who then create their own new state, countries like China and Russia may not be very sympathetic to the idea."And that leads to what von der Dunk described as a subjective and "murky" fourth requirement: International recognition of a new state."I think, at the end of the day, it all boils down to whether or not the rest of the world, in particular the major spacefaring nations, would agree to that," he said.Two historical examples of the world struggling to accept a new nation stand out, he added.First there's Taiwan, which technically fulfills all three of the objective criteria of a state — it has territory, a permanent population, and its own government. But on the world stage, China and others dispute the independence of Taiwan, and it has no seat at the United Nations.There's also the United States. In 1776, when a young and scrappy coalition of colonies declared their independence from British rule, a number of countries declined to recognize the fledgling and war-torn nation. This changed during and after the American Revolutionary War, which ended in 1783.So while it's not impossible for SpaceX to form a sovereign Martian state recognized by Earth's nations, von der Dunk said the bar remains high with changing Article 2 and earning international recognition of sovereignty."Neither of them are, by their own nature, eternal. So I can't completely exclude that, 50 years from now, we will have a state on Mars," he said.For that reason, and the fact that SpaceX is a corporation, Von der Dunk said it's important to take seriously the company's plans and work to develop sensible regulation — even if it seems unlikely Musk will ever get his cities on the red planet."SpaceX is a private company, and they want to make money," he said. "It is important to keep an eye on this and to generate international discussions and to make sure things are going in the right [direction] — that you do not get a settlement on Mars which turns out to be totally reckless and without any regard for what we, on Earth, consider in the overarching interest of humanity."

SpaceX wants to impose its 'own legal regime' on Mars for human settlements. A space law expert says that's dubious, but Earth should take it seriously anyway.

<ul><li>At the start of 2020, Indian Space Research Organisation (<keyword id="6358064" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>) Chairman and Secretary Department of Space K. Sivan said that the space agency was planning to have 25 launches. </li><li>All was going well for ISRO after the crashlanding of India's moon lander Vikram on the lunar surface in 2019.</li><li>The first setback of the year for ISRO came on March 4, when it had to call off the launch of GISAT-1, a day before its actual launch, owing to technical reasons. </li></ul>What would have been an insipid first half of the calendar year 2020 for the Indian space agency turned a bit interesting towards the end, with the government announcing its decision to open up the sector to private participation. At the start of 2020, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and Secretary Department of Space K. Sivan said that the space agency was planning to have 25 launches -- including Aditya-L1 satellite, <keyword id="1512353" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Geo-Imaging-Satellite">Geo Imaging Satellite</keyword> (GISAT-1), realisation of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) or small rocket (carrying capacity 500 kg), navigation satellite with indigenous atomic clocks and <keyword id="9550825" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-data-relay-satellite-system">Indian Data Relay Satellite System</keyword> (IDRSS), and GSAT-20 satellite with electric propulsion. Sivan also said India will embark on its third moon mission 'Chandrayaan-3' and attempt to land a lander on the lunar surface sometime in 2020-21. All was going well for ISRO after the crashlanding of India's moon lander Vikram on the lunar surface in 2019. The year began well ISRO with the launch of the 3,357 kg communication satellite GSAT-30 by the European space agency Arianespace rocket Ariane 5 on January 17. The ISRO also showcased its robot/half-humanoid -- Vyommitra - which was part of its human space mission programme 'Gaganyaan'. The first setback of the year for ISRO came on March 4, when it had to call off the launch of GISAT-1, a day before its actual launch, owing to technical reasons. The ISRO did not share any detail about the technical reasons, or the glitch, and its rectification since then. It is also not known when the satellite with a very good camera would be launched. Then came the Covid-19 lockdown within and outside India that had its cascading impact on ISRO's core plans like the realisation of SSLV, launch of GISAT-1, delay in the first test-flight of the rocket as part of Gaganyaan mission. "During the lockdown, industries that were supplying components were not working. Our own officials were not able to attend office. Further travel to Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh for satellite launch by the officials were not possible due to the lockdown," Sivan told IANS. It is also not known when ISRO will be able to restart its satellite launch operations. With coronavirus infection spreading fast in the county, ISRO also started work on developing a low-cost ventilator and sanitiser. Meanwhile, two positive developments happened for ISRO -- securing an Indian patent for its liquid cooling and heating garment (LCHG) suitable for space applications and for its method of manufacturing highland lunar soil simulant or simply lunar/moon soil. On May 16, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that Indian private sector will be a co-traveller in India's space-sector journey and a level-playing field will be provided for them in satellites, launches, and space-based services. She also said that a predictable policy and regulatory environment will be provided to private players. The future projects for planetary exploration, outer space travel and others are to be opened up for the private sector, adding there will be a liberal geo-spatial data policy for providing remote-sensing data to tech-entrepreneurs subject to various checks. Welcoming the announcement, sectoral experts suggested various models for restructuring of ISRO and also urged the government to set up an independent regulator and also enact necessary legislation. On June 24, the Union Cabinet decided to set up Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), making ISRO to focus on research and development (R&amp;D) of new technologies, exploration missions, and human spaceflight programme. Singh said the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to set up IN-SPACe to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure. He also said the New Space India Limited (NSIL) will endeavour to re-orient space activities from a 'supply driven' model to 'demand driven' model, thereby ensuring optimum utilisation of the country's space assets. Former ISRO Chairman <keyword id="52158" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="madhavan-nair">Madhavan Nair</keyword> said there should be a national space law to define responsibilities and liabilities. Pointing out the role envisaged for IN-SPACe and the demand for a sectoral regulator, when queried whether the proposed body could be converted into the space sector regulator, Sivan told IANS: "IN-SPACe could be turned into a regulatory body when the necessary laws and regulations are in place." "We are on the job of getting ready the Space Activities Bill. It will define the space activities, liabilities and other aspects," he added. As part of the reform process, new navigation policy is also being proposed. Suitable changes in the remote sensing data policy as well as SATCOM policy are on the anvil to align them to an open and inclusive space sector, said Sivan. "The best is to establish an independent regulator -- <keyword id="9550824" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-regulatory-authority-of-india">Space Regulatory Authority of India</keyword> (SRAI) -- which will create a level-playing field for many of the emerging players," Narayan Prasad, Chief Operating Officer, satsearch, told IANS. Establishing an independent regulator could allow a systematic review and reforms on a continuous basis rather than one-off announcements, Prasad said. As per current scheme of things, IN-SPACe will have its own directorates for technical, legal, safety and security, monitoring as well as activities promotion for assessing the private sector's needs and coordination of the activities. IN-SPACe would have a board and representatives from industry, academia and the government, Sivan said. "Initially, IN-SPACe will be manned by people from the existing space setup. Later, people from outside will be taken in. It will have its funds from the budgetary allocations for the DoS. The new body may not need big financial allocations," Sivan remarked. Stressing that the ISRO's importance will not diminish with the entry of IN-SPACe, Sivan said all the existing centres - manufacturing, services, rocket launch centres - would continue to be with the ISRO. "The ISRO will be involved in research and development in advanced technologies, human space missions. It will also share its technological expertise with the private parties. The proposed new body will not disturb the existing ones. It will be another autonomous body," Sivan said. Industry officials are hoping to see further steps being taken by the government regarding the space sector during the second half of 2020. But as regards the satellite launches - domestic as well as foreign for a fee - by ISRO during the year depends on the spread or control of coronavirus and the resultant lockdown. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/photographer-of-the-viral-black-panther-images-from-india-shares-his-story/articleshow/76830618.cms">INTERVIEW: Shaaz Jung opens up about the blood, sweat and years behind the viral images of a rare black panther</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/harvard-and-mit-are-suing-ice-to-block-its-order-forcing-international-students-to-leave-the-us-if-their-course-is-online-only/articleshow/76856699.cms">Harvard, MIT, and Northeastern University are suing ICE to block its order forcing international students to leave the US if their course is online-only</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/russian-scammers-are-conning-senior-executives-into-giving-away-2-7-million-by-impersonating-real-ceos-and-lawyers/articleshow/76849870.cms">Russian scammers are conning senior executives into giving away $2.7 million by impersonating real CEOs and lawyers</a>

You Searched For "india space law" and got 11 results

India’s new ‘Space Activities Bill’ will fix the liability for damage caused in outer space

Prabhjote Gill

It might be time for ‘space superpowers’ to bring in a new space treaty

Prabhjote Gill

India's test of its anti-satellite weapon may have weakened its fight against dangerous space debris

Prabhjote Gill

Pentagon defends India's ASAT test in front US military oversight committee

Prabhjote Gill

What happens if you break the law in space — and 3 times people or governments have tested the rules

Paola Rosa-Aquino

‘No need for RTI application’: Residents in this Indian state can now visit any government office and check official records once a week

BI India Bureau

Twitter’s Clubhouse-competitor Spaces now available on desktop and mobile browsers

IANS

NASA slams India's anti-satellite test, may pull support from mission Gaganyaan

Prabhjote Gill

India reverses a controversial policy of playing the national anthem in movie theatres

Rosie Perper,Rosie Perper

SpaceX wants to impose its 'own legal regime' on Mars for human settlements. A space law expert says that's dubious, but Earth should take it seriously anyway.

Dave Mosher

ISRO doesn't know when it will be ready to restart space launches

IANS

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