Strategic Space Law Program
An intensive, interdisciplinary and interactive program designed for lawyers and
other professionals in the defence services, international relations, government,
international organizations, law firms, consulting firms and industry interested in
studying space law from a strategic perspective.
27 – 31 October 2014
Institute of Air and Space Law
McGill University
Montreal, Canada
First semester 2015
Adelaide Law School
University of Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia
What is it?
The McGill University Institute of, and Centre for Research in, Air and Space Law, in partnership with
the University of Adelaide Law School, is pleased to present the first ever Strategic Space Law
Program. The aim of the program is to provide a unique opportunity for lawyers and other
professionals in the defence services, international relations, government, international organisations,
law firms, consulting firms and industry around the world to study space law in a strategic context. The
Montreal program will be run as a one-week intensive, interdisciplinary, interactive workshop (nonassessable) at the Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University in October 2014. Thereafter, the
program will be repeated in the form of a graduate course (assessable for academic credit) at the
University of Adelaide Law School during the first semester of 2015. On both occasions, the
substantive content of the program will be the same and will be delivered by world-class academics,
legal and policy advisors and subject-matter experts drawn from government, civil society (including
academia) and commerce.
Program Highlights
 23 core lectures from experts on the principles and concepts involved in the various
disciplines that touch on Strategic Space Law.
 Hands-on workshops and practical exercises linked to lectures, on topics such as space
traffic management, military use of spectrum, space debris and simulated legal, policy and
commercial problem-solving and debate.
 Social and other networking activities.
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 Professional visits to relevant sites (may include the Canadian Space Agency and Woomera
launch site in South Australia).
Who are the expert-instructors?
 Duncan Blake – Legal Advisor, Defence Space Coordinating Office, Department of Defence,
Australia (not representing DoD).
 Paul Dempsey – Director and Tomlinson Professor of Global Governance in Air and Space
Law, Institute of Air and Space Law McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
 Melissa de Zwart – Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Law School, Adelaide,
Australia.
 Steven Freeland – Professor of International Law, Co-Director of Research and HDR,
University of Western Sydney School of Law, Australia.
 Patrick Gleeson – former Senior Lawyer (Canadian Forces military operations), Department
of National Defence, Ottawa, Canada (not representing DND).
 Ram Jakhu – Associate Professor of Law, Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University,
Montreal, Canada.
 Donna Lawler – Assistant General Counsel, Optus Telecommunications (not representing
Optus).
 Darrin Lovett – Executive Agent for Space, Department of Defence, USA (not representing
DoD).
 Emma Lovett – Australian legal officer currently on exchange at the Pentagon (not
representing DoD).
 Paul Meyer (TBC) – Adjunct Professor of International Studies and Fellow in International
Security, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.
 Patrick Schwomeyer – USAF Judge Advocate, NORAD (not representing DoD).
 Dale Stephens – Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Law School, Adelaide, Australia.
 Brian Weeden – Technical Advisor, Secure World Foundation, Washington DC, USA.
Why study Strategic Space Law?
Today there are approximately 1,100 active satellites in orbit and the number of States directly
involved in launching or operating satellites has grown substantially since the dawn of the space age.
Even States that have no direct involvement in launching or operating satellites rely heavily on space
infrastructure: for television, radio, banking, communications, transport, agriculture, mining, and
especially for modern military services. Yet, those satellites are under increasing threat from 100,000s
of pieces of space debris and increasing harmful radio interference. Furthermore, some States already
possess counter-space weapons and other means capable of destroying or disrupting satellites and
other States have plans to develop those capabilities. There is also greater competition for use of the
limited radio frequency spectrum and prime orbital slots that are indispensable for the operation of all
satellites.
Outer space is becoming more contested, congested and competitive. Concurrently, the global
security situation generally is less certain. Financial and other constraints have made global powers
more inward-looking and less likely to deploy forces globally – except through the sort of ‘remote
reach’ capabilities that rely on space infrastructure (such as uninhabited aerial vehicles and cyber
warfare). Secure, ongoing access to fossil fuels is a growing concern, yet all States are wary of the
nuclear energy option and its relationship to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Ballistic missiles, as
the means of delivery of nuclear weapons, involve space flight and ballistic missile defence also relies
on space-based infrastructure. Thus, space is a key element in global security, yet it is also
increasingly vulnerable to the threats described above.
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There is a real danger that outer space will become a wild and lawless frontier and there is evidence
of that view already. Yet, there is a legal framework (i.e. rule of law) for outer space of growing
complexity, which must be fully understood and complied with by all involved in strategic space
matters. The challenges confronting space-based infrastructure have implications for all States, not
just the superpower, space-faring States and implications for all sectors, not just the military or
government.
Who is the program for?


Lawyers and other professionals in the defence services, international relations, government,
international organisations, law firms, consulting firms and industry around the world.
Academics, graduate researchers and students studying or interested in strategic issues,
international relations, public policy and law.
What knowledge and skills will you acquire?
You will study the strategic space law framework. You will be able to explain the legal parameters
around the current strategic challenges for space-based infrastructure and services and you will
explore various legal means to address those challenges. When you successfully complete this
program, you will have the space law knowledge and skills to:
 demonstrate advanced knowledge of the intersection of law, strategy and outer space;
 critically analyze complex problems arising from the application of law to space security;
 broadly understand the interests and stakeholders in a variety of contexts associated with
strategic space law;
 independently develop legal or policy recommendations in response to those problems; and
 engage in relevant, strategic policy-making, drafting and negotiating domestic and international
legal instruments, diplomatic representation, capability development, conferences, meetings
and commerce.
Ultimately, you will acquire the knowledge and skills to make a significant contribution to global space
security, for the benefit of all nations.
What qualifications will you receive?
Students completing the Strategic Space Law course at the University of Adelaide may be awarded 3
units of credit towards a graduate qualification (i.e. LL.M), which will be recognised at any Australian
university (individual arrangements would need to be made with other universities). Persons not
wanting to undertake the assessments for the Strategic Space Law course at the University of
Adelaide may audit the course for a lesser fee. It is possible for students to enrol in the course at
Adelaide for academic credit and physically undertake the course at McGill University in Montreal.
The Strategic Space Law program at McGill University will be run as a workshop and will be nonassessable. Participants will be given a Certificate of Participation at the end of the workshop.
Participants may also undertake the program at McGill University, but concurrently enrol at the
University of Adelaide and, on completion of assessments set by the University of Adelaide,
participants may also be awarded 3 units of credit towards postgraduate qualification.
Program Fees
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Although the substantive content of the program will be identical at both sessions, different fees will be
charged for each session.
The fee applicable to the one-week intensive Strategic Space Law program offered at McGill
University in October is $500.00 (CAD). This fee will cover registration, course materials, lunches and
refreshment breaks. As indicated above, McGill University will not grant academic credit to any person
who enrols in the Strategic Space Law Program. This notwithstanding, students from other universities
wishing to obtain academic credit for the McGill intensive program may do so by enrolling with, and
paying the applicable fee (see below) to, the University of Adelaide Law School. For such students,
the program will be assessable although taken in an intensive format. In addition, such students will be
responsible for making all necessary arrangements to ensure that any academic credit granted by the
University of Adelaide will be recognized by their home institutions
The fee for the 3 credit unit Strategic Space Law course at the University of Adelaide is approximately
$3000 (AUD). This fee will apply to students taking the course at the University of Adelaide in the first
semester of 2015 as well as students who enrol in the McGill program in October 2014 who desire to
obtain academic credit for it through the University of Adelaide Law School. Students may audit the
course (that is not receive academic credit) at Adelaide University in the first semester 2015 for a fee
of $500.00 (AUD) though will still need to apply to undertake the course on an audit basis.
Enrolment
To apply for the Strategic Space Law Program at McGill University (October 2014 session), please
complete and submit the attached registration form and payment by September 15, 2014 to:
Ms. Maria D'Amico
Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University
3690 Peel Street, Room 205
Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1W9
Email: maria.damico@mcgill.ca
To enrol in the Strategic Space Law Course at the University of Adelaide or to obtain academic credit
or information about the October 2014 session through the University of Adelaide, please contact Mr
Renato
De
Andrade
(Renato.deandrande@adelaide.edu.au)
or
Dr
Dale
Stephens
(dale.stephens@adelaide.edu.au) as soon as possible and in any event before October 13, 2014.
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Program for Strategic Space Law Program – October 2014 Session, McGill University, Montreal
Monday: 27 October 2014
Tuesday: 28 October 2014
Wednesday: 29 October 2014
Thursday: 30 October 2014
Friday: 31 October 2014
Course registration
Exercise preparation
Exercise preparation
4.0 Exercise (ICAO and space
traffic management)
5.0 TTX– Pt 2
1000 1050
1.1 Welcome, administration
and introduction
2.1 Space law-making process
(who makes space law?)
3.1 Law of armed conflict and
the conduct of space activities
4.1 Law, satellite control stations
and terrestrial control of
satellites
5.1 Law on space-based
intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance
1100 1150
1.2 Nature of the space domain
2.2 Review of basic principles of
space law
3.2 International criminal law
and the conduct of space
activities
4.2 Law on military use of
satellite communications
5.2 Law on position, navigation
and timing
1200 1250
1.3 Civil and commercial uses of
space
2.3 Liability and State
responsibility in outer space
3.3 Law on launch operations
and ballistic missiles
4.3 Regulating electro-magnetic
radiation in space
5.3 Law on space situational
awareness
1400 1450
1.4 Military and national security
uses of space
2.4 Law on space exploration
and exploitation
3.4 Missile early warning and
ballistic missile defence (through
space)
4.4 Law and electronic and
cyber warfare
5.4 Force application (from
space) and counter space ops
(to and in space)
1500 1550
1.5 Strategy and space power
theory
2.5 Law and spectrum from
peace to conflict in outer space
(jus ad bellum)
3.5 Diplomacy, general arms
control agreementsarrangements and their
application to space operations
4.5 Outer space and protection
of national
interests/security/sovereignty in
data and information
5.5 TTX– Pt 3
1600 –
1650
1.6 Exercise (COPUOS and
space debris)
2.6 TTX – Pt 1
3.6 Exercise (CD, PAROS,
GGE, CoC, etc.)
4.6 Exercise (ITU & regulating
military/national security use of
spectrum)
5.6 Course conclusion
Evening
Icebreaker
Exercise preparation
Exercise preparation
Exercise preparation
Morning
0900 –
0950
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STRATEGIC SPACE LAW PROGRAM, MONTREAL, OCT. 27-31, 2014
REGISTRATION FORM
 Mr  Mrs.
 Mrs.  Dr
First Name
Initial(s)
Last Name
Title
Organization / Firm
Address
City
State/Province
Postal/Zip Code
Telephone
Email
Date
Signature
Country
Registration Fee: $500.00 (CAD) includes registration for the 1-week program, refreshments,
luncheons, and course materials.
Method of Payment:
□ Check or money order in Canadian funds payable to McGill University Institute of Air and Space
Law;
□ MasterCard
□ Visa
American Express □ Cash (onsite only)
Card No:
Expiry Date:
Name of card holder:
Date:
Signature of card holder:
:
:
McGill IASL, c/o Maria D’Amico Fax number: (514) 398-8197. Fax completed
registration form with credit card payment information.
Send completed registration form with payment to: McGill University IASL,
Att: Maria D’Amico, 3690 Peel Street, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA, H3A 1W9
or via email at: maria.damico@mcgill.ca
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