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Integration of military and civilian space assets : legal and national security implications

The increasing intermingling of civilian and military space activities could lead to serious, and perhaps unintended, consequences. While international space law is very permissive with regard to military uses of space, there are considerable legal and security implications resulting from military and civilian dependence on the same space services. From a military perspective, intentional reliance on civilian systems must address, inter alia, national security concerns, contractual obligations, licensing restrictions, liability, and long-term political relationships, while respecting the interests of the commercial sector. Policy decisions leading to an increase in civilian-military space interdependence must also consider potential impacts of this symbiosis on trade, international relations, and the conduct of armed hostilities. The thesis addresses these and certain related issues in four chapters. The first chapter explores the depth of the interdependence of military and civilian users on the same space systems. The second chapter considers the implications of dual use space technologies, such as proliferation concerns. The third chapter discusses various legal mechanisms States employ to address security issues involving space activities. The final chapter outlines legal restrictions on the use of space assets by armed forces.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.19637
Date January 2003
CreatorsWaldrop, Elizabeth Seebode
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Laws (Institute of Air and Space Law)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 002022519, Theses scanned by McGill Library.

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