LIABILITY OF SPACE TRANSPORT CARRIERS AND TOURISM OPERATORS TO PASSENGERS, CARGO AND THIRD PARTIES

摘要

The development of a space passenger transport and space tourism sector, catalysed by the creation of the Ansari X Prize and various associated commercial ventures, has put the focus of some legal and policy commentators on the issue of liability for such operations for loss, injury or damage to passengers, cargo and to third parties. While applicable limitation of liability schemes exist for maritime transport and air transport, no such scheme yet exist for space transport, nor has one been proposed and considered by the international community. The clarification of such issues would increase confidence in the emerging sector as well as to reduce compliance and insurance costs.