Delineating Outer Space: The Impact on Near-Space Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
Abstract
The legal definition of where air space ends and outer space begins has not been codified into international law. States have sovereignty over their air space, but according to international law, no state sovereignty exits in outer space. Therefore there is a question as to where state sovereignty ends and the space commons begin. The question of definition becomes increasingly important as technology advances and states develop platforms which will operate in near-space, this legally ambiguous zone. The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space has asked the United States whether or not it supports specifically delimiting space. This paper, after a review of space law and air law, concludes that regarding its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, it is in the best interest of the United States not to pursue a specific definition
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1018664
Entities
People
- David Jr M. Dersch
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College