SHATAXI AMICUS LEX

Image source- Google Image by- Leticia Riente “Searching for satellites and celestial spheres  nurturing acolytes down through the years”  -Searching for satellites, Wishbone Ash 2011  Lyrics are like a code that you decipher from your own perspective. The lyrics above artfully express Wishbone Ash’s discreet tribute to public international law. But that’s my perception. In our current political climate, it is of utmost importance that we safeguard outer space. ASAT, an anti-satellite weapon, threatens to endanger the peaceful exploration of space due to unwanted space debris unless international laws come to our rescue. However, the Outer Space Treaty, often hailed as “The Magna Carta of International Space Law,” does not define the term "outer space" comprehensively. Consequently, the jurisdiction over ASATs remains ambiguous; it is unclear whether any experiment aimed from the ground to disrupt a satellite orbiting Earth falls under terrestrial boundaries or outer spac...

Image source- Google Image by- Mike wall SpaceX has made history by successfully launching its first astronaut mission into orbit. This groundbreaking achievement marks the beginning of many ambitious projects for the future of human spaceflight. According to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, the ultimate goal is to send humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars. Just eight minutes after launch, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket landed back on the drone ship  Of Course I Still Love You , stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The spacecraft is now on its way to the International Space Station (ISS), carrying 400 pounds of cargo for the astronauts aboard. The Historic Launch On  May 30, 2020 , at  3:22 p.m. , NASA and SpaceX made history at  Kennedy Space Center  in  Brevard County, Florida , by launching NASA astronauts  Robert Louis Behnken  and  Douglas Gerald Hurley  into space. It was the first time a  private company  (Space...

The  Outer Space Treaty , adopted in  1967 , marked a turning point in the intersection of science, technology, and international law. Celebrating its  30th anniversary in 1997 , the treaty laid the groundwork for the governance of activities related to the exploration and use of  outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies . The adoption of this treaty introduced a transformative legal framework, symbolizing a pivotal moment in the harmonization of space exploration with principles of international law. Charter of Space Law: The Magna Carta of Outer Space The  Outer Space Treaty of 1967  is widely regarded as the  cornerstone of international space law . It has rightly been described as the  "Magna Carta"  of space jurisprudence. This treaty established a set of  fundamental legal principles that form the backbone of all subsequent international instruments governing space activities. Following the  Declaration of ...

K2-18B: A Rare Exoplanet That Could Support Life Astronomers have discovered approximately 3,706 exoplanets to date; however, none have shown conditions similar to those of Earth. Among these discoveries,  K2-18b  stands out as a particularly unique and rare find — a planet with characteristics that suggest it could potentially support life. Discovery and Location K2-18b was discovered by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope and is located approximately 110 light-years away from Earth. What makes this exoplanet remarkable is that it lies within the  habitable zone  of its star — the region where conditions might be right for liquid water to exist, a key ingredient for life as we know it. Habitability and Distinctions K2-18b is the first known exoplanet situated outside our solar system that exhibits both water vapor in its atmosphere and temperatures that may allow for liquid water to exist. However, this does not make it an “Earth twin.” In fact, K2-18b and Earth are va...

CRIME IN OUTER SPACE: A NEW FRONTIER FOR LAW AND ORDER Until now, crimes have been witnessed only on Earth. However, a new jurisdictionless frontier has emerged—outer space. Crime happens where humans live, and today we have the unprecedented example of the first-ever crime committed in outer space. Anne C. McClain, a U.S. astronaut who joined the astronaut program in June 2013, has served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying approximately 800 combat hours on 216 missions as Pilot-in-Command and Air Mission Commander. NASA is currently investigating a crime allegedly committed by McClain aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She is accused of accessing the bank account of her spouse remotely from the space station’s computer. During her training for NASA’s first-ever spacewalk, McClain allegedly accessed the bank account of her estranged spouse, Summer Worden. Ms. Worden, a former Air Force Intelligence officer, filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission allegin...

Image Source- The Times of India NEED TO REMOVE SPACE DEBRIS Space Debris Initially, the term "space debris" referred to natural objects in the solar system, such as asteroids, comets, and meteoroids . However, since the establishment of NASA's Orbital Debris Program in 1979, the term also encompasses human-made debris, including defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from their deterioration or collisions. Quantity of Space Debris As of December 2016, five major satellite collisions have contributed significantly to space debris. According to the European Space Agency in 2018: Approximately 29,000 objects larger than 10 cm are in orbit. Around 750,000 objects measure between 1cm to 10 cm. An estimated 166 million objects range between 1mm to 1cm in size. Over 170 million fragments smaller than 1cm. Around 670,000 fragments measuring 1–10 cm. Approximately 29,000 larger pieces orbiting Earth. Artificial debris in orbit includes broken satellites, roc...