Space law doesn’t protect historical sites, mining operations and bases on the Moon – a space lawyer describes a framework that could

More people will be going to the Moon in coming years, and the way current legal frameworks are written could lead to conflict.

Michelle L.D. Hanlon, Professor of Air and Space Law, University of Mississippi • conversation
May 12, 2025 • ~10 min

Right now, space law doesn’t protect historical sites, mining operations and bases on the Moon – a space lawyer describes a framework that could

More people will be going to the Moon in coming years, and the way current legal frameworks are written could lead to conflict.

Michelle L.D. Hanlon, Professor of Air and Space Law, University of Mississippi • conversation
May 12, 2025 • ~10 min

Property and sovereignty in space − as countries and companies take to the stars, they could run into disputes

Space isn’t lawless, but the agreements governing it don’t cover everything nations will have to grapple with as they develop their space programs.

Wayne N White Jr, Adjunct Professor of Aviation and Space Law, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University • conversation
Jan. 31, 2025 • ~10 min

As the US and China race to the Moon, these loopholes in space law could cause conflict

Nations will need to tread carefully on the Moon in order to avoid conflict.

Gbenga Oduntan, Professor of Law, University of Bradford • conversation
Jan. 3, 2025 • ~8 min

Back to the Moon: A space lawyer and planetary scientist on what it will take to share the benefits of new lunar exploration - Podcast

A US-led coalition and China are both planning to establish bases on the Moon. How the two nations will navigate actions on the Moon and how other countries will be involved is still unclear.

Nehal El-Hadi, Science + Technology Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation • conversation
March 23, 2023 • ~6 min

NASA's head warned that China may try to claim the Moon – two space scholars explain why that's unlikely to happen

A comment by Bill Nelson, the NASA administrator, sparked a strong public response from the Chinese government. But due to legal and practical reasons, no country could take over the Moon anytime soon.

R. Lincoln Hines, Assistant Professor, West Space Seminar, Air University, Air University • conversation
July 8, 2022 • ~7 min

Wealthy nations are carving up space and its riches – and leaving other countries behind

Current trends suggest that powerful nations are defining the rules of resource use in space and satellite access in ways that will make it hard for developing nations to ever catch up.

Theodora Ogden, Research Fellow in Emerging Space Countries, Arizona State University • conversation
May 11, 2022 • ~9 min

Ukraine invasion threatens international collaboration in space and shows how power structures are changing – podcast

Listen to two space experts discuss how the Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens international collaboration in space on The Conversation Weekly podcast.

Gemma Ware, Editor and Co-Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation • conversation
April 28, 2022 • ~5 min

Space law hasn't been changed since 1967 – but the UN aims to update laws and keep space peaceful

Human activities in space today are far more numerous and complicated compared to the 1967. Two experts explain the need for better laws to keep space peaceful.

Greg Autry, Clinical Professor of Space Leadership, Policy and Business, Arizona State University • conversation
Nov. 23, 2021 • ~8 min

If a satellite falls on your house, space law protects you – but there are no legal penalties for leaving junk in orbit

Chances are small that space junk will destroy property or harm a person, and existing space law could deal with such an event. But current law doesn't address the bigger problem of space pollution.

Timiebi Aganaba, Assistant Professor of Space and Society, Arizona State University • conversation
May 17, 2021 • ~9 min

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