Suborbital Aerospace Transportation and Space Traffic Management: A Vacuum in Need of Law

Abstract

The development of sub-orbital flight will require a further development of the international legal regime applicable to commercial space transportation.

With the forthcoming inauguration of tourist flights, the technology for the use of space as a route for international transportation will follow. Ultimately, the world community needs an integrated system of laws and regulations to govern sub-orbital and orbital international transportation. An appropriate stop-gap measure may be the adoption of a new, or amendment of an existing Annex to the Chicago Convention, making ICAO's navigation and safety standards applicable to both sub-orbital and orbital flights.

Keywords: ICAO, sub-orbital, suborbital, virgin galactic, Chicago Convention, space flight, human space flight, orbital flight, suborbital flight, space traffic management, SARPS, aerospace transportation vehicle, nonaerospace transportation vehicle, ITU, airspace, aircraft