Legal Issues Of The Commercialization Of Outer Space Activities

With the launches of Shenzhou 5 and Shenzhou 6 into outer space, China's space activities draw great concerns from the world. As scholars on International Law, we have to ask ourselves that whether study in space law in China keep up with space activities? Whether the legislations of space law in China match the international status of China as a space power without question? Since China is the contracting state of the five international space treaties except the Moon Treaty, has it fulfilled all the legal obligations according to these international treaties? In the tide of commercialization of space activities prevailing in the world, we should lead the tide by making good use of our space technology, in order to maximize our interest in space commercialization, as well as to promote the progress of space technology and to advance the good circulation of space commercialization, rather than evade the tide of space commercialization, or passively drift with the tide. To clarify these issues, I choose this subject.To study in domestic legislation on outer space, we should first analyze the international space treaties and some correlative legal documents, and then draw comparisons among space laws in different states, especially the space law systems of space powers. By making discussion and analysis on the legal issues of the space commercial activities, this dissertation seeks to show the framework of international space law and the measures of different countries, and bring forward the author's viewpoints on basis of the present characteristics of space commercialization.Chapter 1 of the dissertation makes an introduction to the concept and main content of space and commercialization of space activities, as well as the present fields and industry scale involved in the commercialization of space activities, etc. By making an introduction to the origin, development and the future trends of commercialization of space activities, the author describes a charming and inundant prospect of commercialization of space activities.Chapter 2 of the dissertation makes an analysis on the legal basis of space commercial activities. As the existing international space treaties do not directly involve space commercialization, the author makes a conclusion according to the expression and connotation of the treaties that space commercial activities are not in breach of international space law. International space law gives room to national space law for...