NUJS Kolkata: International Conference On 'Space Tourism: Legal Dimensions' [January 29, 2022]

It is with the creative imagination of Jules Verne and Herge that mankind had once started dreaming about space travel and tourism. With the development of space technology witnessing an exponential growth, as evidenced by the invention of the Reusable Launch Vehicle, and with the increasing involvement of private corporations in the funding of related research and applications, the days of private commercial space tourism have already arrived with a flourish. The purposes for which such tours may be undertaken may range from recreation and leisure to business. Even the extent of the tour may differ, thus giving rise to subcategories of space tourism like orbital, sub-orbital, and lunar space tourism, to name a few. State-backed organisations such as the Roscosmos, State Corporation for Space Activities in Russia have already tasted success in the field of orbital space tourism, while private commercial organizations like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have now started stepping onto the sub-orbital playing field, with wealthy individuals only too willing to spend a fortune to become the next space tourist. Sensing the immense potential of the market concerned, both state-sponsored and privately funded projects have also started mushrooming with the objectives to build spaceports and hotels modeled on existing structures like the International Space Station.

Given such a flurry of activities in this sector, one must carefully consider the various legal implications and resulting concerns. Issues such as authorization, supervision, registration, certification of the crafts and crew used, and the liability resulting from these activities are the foremost of such concerns, especially given their tryst with multiple existing and potential regulations on the domestic as well as international levels. The uncertain legal status of space tourists, and the possibility of conflict between well-established international principles like 'individual non-appropriation' of property and resources on the one hand and the requisite territorial rights that may arise in relation to turning space tourism into a reality, further add on to the already complex mix. Contractual relationship between the companies offering space tourism packages and related opportunities and their customers contribute to the governance problems that need to be catered to by any regime that proposes to deal with space tourism. Criteria such as rationae loci and rationae materiae deserve special attention when it comes to ascertaining the role that international and domestic laws (including laws of contract, tort, air law, laws related to adventure travel) may end up playing in the overall supervision and regulation of this domain.

In the light of such developments, the Centre for Aviation and Space Laws of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences finds it timely to organise an international conference to map the current developments, domestic and international regulatory responses, and the legal ramifications of the same in the backdrop of the myriad developments taking place in this sector. The goal of this conference is to find out the true nature and extent of the various legal challenges that regulation of space tourism may face, and to explore possible solutions to such challenges, as well as to review the various attempts being made or to be made to develop and nurture such solutions by the public and private stakeholders involved.

The Conference will be held online via Google Meet platform.

Major Sub-Themes of the Conference

• Commercialisation and Partnership Development in the Field of Space Tourism
• Space Tourism in the Context of Sustainable Development
• Applicable Law in Sub-Orbital Tourism
• Legal Status of Private Space Tourists
• Certification and Vehicular Registration for Space Tourism
• Liability and Responsibility Issues in Space Tourism
• Space Tourism and Insurance
• Health Concerns in Space Tourism
• Property Rights in relation to Space Tourism
• Contractual Obligations in the Context of Space Tourism
• Space Tourism and Environmental Concerns
• Choice of Law and Jurisdiction in Governing Issues Arising out of Space Tourism

Call for Papers

Those who are interested in presenting a paper on any of the above themes must send an abstract of 400 words along with a brief biographical note (not more than 100 words) on or before December 1, 2021. The acceptance of the paper for presentation would be informed by December 10, 2021. A full length paper of 5,000 - 6,000 words must be sent by January 20, 2022. If the full length paper is not submitted before the last date, authors will not be allowed to present the paper in the Conference. Submission of the full paper would be presumed as unconditional consent of the author/s for a possible publication by the organisers.

Last date for submission of Abstract: December 1, 2021

Last date for submission of Full Paper: January 20, 2022

E-mail id for Submissions: casl@nujs.edu

Contact Number:-

+91 8854988106 (Mr. Rohit Gupta)

+91 9938585376 (Ms. Anushna Mishra)

Last date for Early Bird Registration: January 1, 2022

Last date for Normal Registration: January 25, 2022

Conference Date: January 29, 2022

Registration Details:

Early Bird Registration Fee for Paper Presenters/Participants (within India)	Rs. 500/-
Registration Fee for Paper Presenters/Participants at Normal Rate (within India)	Rs. 1000/-
Early Bird Registration Fee for Paper Presenters/Participants (outside India)	USD 20/-
Registration Fee for Paper Presenters/Participants at Normal Rate (outside India)	USD 50/-

* All charges relating to payment of registration fee are to be borne by the paper presenter/participant.

** Screenshot of the payment details should be uploaded during registration.

*** Registration fee, once paid, would not be refunded for any reason.

The registration fee has to be paid via online transfer to the following account:

Name: Centre for Aviation and Space Laws

Account No: 066322010001131

Bank & Branch: Union Bank of India, NUJS Campus Branch

IFSC Code: UBIN0906638

SWIFT Code: UBININBBKOD

Invited resource persons, members of CASL (NUJS) and students of NUJS are exempted from the payment of the registration fee.

All presenters and observers are requested to mandatorily register themselves using this link for the purpose of the Conference. Any communication regarding the Conference shall only be shared with those registered herein.

Expected Participants

As this academic exercise is on the current concern faced by the international community, participation from various segments of the society is expected. While academicians, students and researchers would benefit immensely out of the discussions, the legal practitioners would also be able to acquaint themselves with this emerging branch of law. With the participation of internationally renowned space law experts as resource persons, even the law makers and other government representatives would be benefitted out of their participation in this international conference.

* Note: Certificate would be issued to only those paper presenters/participants who attend all sessions.

Chief Patron:

Prof. Dr. N.K. Chakrabarti

Vice-Chancellor, NUJS

Organising Committee:

Prof. Dr. Sandeepa Bhat B. (Coordinator)

Dr. Shouvik Kr. Guha

Ms. Anushna Mishra

Mr. Akshay Luhadia

Mr. Rohit Gupta

Ms. Aabha Achrekar

Ms. Soumya Gupta

Ms. Simran Upadhyaya

Mr. Tushar Krishna