Environmental Impacts Of Rocket Launch Activities On Surrounding Communities And Ecosystems: Assessing Liability And Regulatory Gaps Under Space Law
- IJLLR Journal
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
Mr. Namit Kumar Srivastava, Research Scholar, Sharda School of Law, Sharda University
Dr. Saurabh Kishor, Assistant Professor, Sharda School of Law, Sharda University
ABSTRACT
With the increase of rockets being launched into outer space, many questions are being raised recently. What does this process of rocket launching do to the local environment and ecosystem? What effects does it have on the atmosphere due to the rocket exhaust being injected directly into the stratosphere? Does the body of law regulating space activity even touch upon those topics? This paper attempts to address these questions by going through scientific studies that are published on the topic at hand. The paper reviews evidence relating to possible harmful environmental impacts of launching rockets, such as noise pollution, chemicals release, damage to the local habitat and atmospheric emission. Then the paper examines key international space law legal instruments such as the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and Liability Convention of 1972, and their adequacy to environmental protection in the course of outer space exploration. Finally, national legislation, with US case study being chosen as an example, is discussed. The outcome of this examination shows that there is a reasonable case for updating the current legal regime, even if the precise path forward is not yet clear.
Keywords: Rocket launches, environmental impact, Atmospheric emissions, space law, Outer Space Treaty, Liability Convention.
