TOWARD A NATIONAL BRAZILIAN CENTER ON SPACE POLICY AND LAW STUDIES

摘要

Why should Brazil have a National Center on Space Policy and Law Studies? Are there any institutions in Brazil dedicated to the systematic study of space policy and law issues? How many people specialized in these questions are currently working in Brazilian public and private entities involved in space activities - whether of a governmental, diplomatic, higher learning, research, industrial or commercial nature? If we have in mind the most important projects - present and future - of the Brazilian Space Program as a whole, what should be the basic requirements for specialists in Space Policy and Law questions? How do the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the General Command of Aerospace Technology (CTA) and its Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) -the main Brazilian space institutions - as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, face up to the many political and legal challenges underlying the use of outer space and the preparation of position-papers and documents for a decision making process in such strategic areas? Does this method of work meet the requirements for a more efficient development of Brazilian space activities and for a more effective performance in the framework of space programs on international cooperation and world space markets? If necessary, in what way could a National Brazilian Center on Space Policy and Law Studies be organized and which should be its main objectives, courses and research programs? The present paper aims at answering these questions with a view to meeting the urgent need of laying down the basis for a Brazilian National Center on Space Policy and Law Studies, as a natural and crucial chapter in the Brazilian space development. This entity is meant to have sound repercussion not only in other countries Latin America but in other developing countries as well.