Space Property Rights

This dissertation proposes, analyzes, and evaluates different policy choices for the creation of a private property rights regime to regulate the use and exploitation of space resources. The timeliness and importance of this dissertation are demonstrated by the enactment of the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, P.L. 114-90, on November 25, 2015. Discussions and outcomes on private property rights over space resources and territory ultimately depend on the type of future humanity will have in space and the type of activities humans are likely to undertake there. This dissertation examines four different possible scenarios regarding the future of humanity in space and resulting activities, analyzes the policy choices available for each scenario, evaluates these choices against a uniform set of criteria, and assesses the implications of the evaluation findings for shaping current and future United States space policy. Thirty-nine interviewees including representatives of international spacefaring nations, U.S. government representatives, and private sector officials with interest in space resource development, contributed their time and expertise to this research.

Author

• Balta, Athina

Language

• en

Keyword

• Outer Space
• Property Rights

Date created

• 2016

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Public Policy & Administration

Degree

• Ph.D.

Advisor

• Newcomer, Kathryn E.

Committee Member(s)

• Saltzburg, Stephen A.
• Kronmiller, Theodore G.
• Pace, Scott
• Griffin, Michael D.

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/cr56n115b