The spaceplane could be the most desirable form of space transportation in the next century. However, accompanying it are questions of whether a boundary is needed between airspace and outer space, and whether the current definition of 'space object' in the outer space treaties is adequate to include these hybrid vehicles This thesis concludes that the spaceplane does not portend the need for a boundary and that it will not require the development of a new definition. Chapter I describes some of the best known spaceplane initiatives. Chapters II and III, respectively, discuss the air law and space law regimes and arguments made for and against establishing a boundary between airspace and outer space. Chapter IV describes debates regarding the sufficiency of the term 'space object' as it is defined in the space law regime. Chapter V analyzes the impact that spaceplanes will have on the boundary and 'space object' debates.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.21687 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Kelly, Elizabeth, 1962- |
| Contributors | Vlasic, Ivan A. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Laws (Institute of Air and Space Law.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001652896, proquestno: MQ50938, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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