what does a nasa lawyer do

Space lawyers draft international treaties and national laws. They advise lawmakers about good policy and whether to enter international agreements. Space lawyers may even help negotiate these agreements. They help government entities and even private companies engaging in space exploration comply with existing laws and treaties.

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What does a space lawyer do?

Because many countries in the world have an interest in space exploration, and because space is the final frontier, space law is part science and part politics. Space lawyers spend a lot of their time determining what international agreements should be and how private property and territory rights should work in regards to outer space.

What does NASA do?

NASA is more than astronauts. We are scientists, engineers, IT specialists, human resources specialists, accountants, writers, technicians and many other kinds of people working together to break barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible.

Who are NASA scientists?

NASA is more than astronauts. We are scientists, engineers, IT specialists, human resources specialists, accountants, writers, technicians and many other kinds of people working together to break barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible. We continue NASA’s legacy...

What kind of jobs can you get at NASA?

Careers at NASA: Explore the Extraordinary, Every Day. NASA is more than astronauts. We are scientists, engineers, IT specialists, human resources specialists, accountants, writers, technicians and many other kinds of people working together to break barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible.

How many lawyers does NASA have?

130 lawyersA: There are 130 lawyers who work for NASA.

Why might a space lawyer be useful?

They advise lawmakers about good policy and whether to enter international agreements. Space lawyers may even help negotiate these agreements. They help government entities and even private companies engaging in space exploration comply with existing laws and treaties.

What do air and space lawyers do?

The Air and Space Lawyer is a newsletter that informs its members of the significant developments in air and space law and keeps them apprised of the activities of the Forum.

Who is the Attorney General of NASA?

Sumara M. Thompson-King was selected as the General Counsel at NASA in June 2014. Ms. Thompson-King serves as the chief legal officer for the agency and oversees its team of attorneys responsible for all aspects of NASA's legal affairs around the world.

How do you become a space law?

A: Aspirants can pursue postgraduate (PG) programmes in the field of Air & Space Law. Some popular PG level courses in Air and Space Law are – Two Years Master's Degree in Aviation Law and Air Transport Management, Two Years Master's Degree in Space and Telecommunications Laws etc.

Where can I study space law?

The closest thing to an actual space law school in the U.S. is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Doctor of Juridical Science degree in Space Law. To qualify for entry to the J.S.D. Space Law program, you must already have a law degree or a Ph.

Is space lawyer a thing?

A space lawyer is a lawyer first. This means supporting governmental or commercial space activities by attending meetings and negotiations, drafting and reviewing documents and basically thinking a lot on the law and the space activity in question.

What is aerospace law?

Aerospace or Aviation law relates to flight, air travel, and the legal and business concerns of the aerospace industry.

What issue can complicate the work of space lawyers?

What issue can complicate the work of space lawyers? It is still somewhat unclear where airspace ends and outer space begins. Most space lawyers agree that the barrier between airspace beings and outer space lies is somewhere between where the highest planes fly and the lowest satellites orbit.

Are there lawyers in NASA?

The International Law Practice Group (ILPG) is responsible for providing legal advice and counsel regarding international matters at Headquarters and all NASA Centers.

Where is the main office of NASA?

Washington, D.C.NASA / Headquarters

What agencies are under the umbrella or hierarchy of NASA?

These include:Air Force Space Command.The Missile Defense Agency.The National Reconnaissance Office.U.S. Strategic Command.Army Space and Missile Defense Command.The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.Defense Space Council.

Mr. Pastorek, as the high-flying General Counsel of the National Aeronautics and Space Administratio...

I have always been interested and intrigued by space. As many Americans, I marveled at the lunar landing and can remember precisely where I was whe...

Can you tell us a bit about the General Counsel's office at NASA — how many lawyers work for you, wh...

There are 130 lawyers who work for NASA. About 40 work in NASA's headquarters in Washington D.C. The rest work in our Centers around the country su...

It's been a long hard year since the Columbia tragedy. While some critics focus on budget issues at ...

The Columbia tragedy was the most difficult event I have had to deal with in my professional life. I was with the Administrator of NASA on the skid...

How close are you with the NASA chief, Sean O'Keefe, appointed by President Bush in December 2001, w...

A: Sean and I are friends since college, where we served in student government as President and Vice-President, respectively. He went into public s...

President Bush's new space policy, announced last month, has generated a lot of excitement about the...

A: The President's vision for America's space exploration program is very exciting, it's affordable and it's credible. It is the first new policy i...

Aside from NASA's great work in exploration, of course, the U.S. civil space industry involves comme...

A: We do have activity with all of these agencies for obvious reasons. One of the not so obvious reasons is in the area of bandwidth dedicated to m...

As space law buffs know, the UN is a source of international space law development, including the Ou...

A: We do have a significant role in the UN activities in the civil space arena. You rightly point out that the place for participation is largely i...

Washington D.C. is a long way from your home in New Orleans. What do you miss about home? What are t...

I commute each week to Washington from New Orleans, which is a bit of a hardship, but doable. I get a lot of work done on the plane, which is good....

Somewhere in our audience may be a future NASA General Counsel. What advice do you have for young la...

A: Government service is a very valuable and worthwhile experience. Whether you are a career lawyer or whether you are like me, a political appoint...

Lastly, as we ask all our Law Stars, who are your personal gurus and Law Stars?

My Law Star is my father. He was a lawyer and a community leader. He is now deceased, but he was a tremendous role model for me when he was alive a...

Why do space lawyers work?

They help government entities and even private companies engaging in space exploration comply with existing laws and treaties. Because of the nature of space law, space lawyers engage in a great deal of policy making. They might spend the bulk of their time drafting proposals or advocating for certain policies.

Why do we need space lawyers?

Because many countries in the world have an interest in space exploration, and because space is the final frontier, space law is part science and part politics. Space lawyers spend a lot of their time determining what international agreements should be and how private property and territory rights should work in regards to outer space. Once they answer these questions, they must work to gain international cooperation and agreement on these issues. Finally, space lawyers must work to implement international and domestic laws that relate to space activity and exploration.

What is space law?

Space law is the body of laws, agreements and treaties that govern outer space. Worldwide leaders must grapple with how to regulate activity in space. Space law covers issues like rules for exploration, weapons use, damage for liability, rescue efforts for astronauts in distress, environmental regulations and records of space activity.

Why is space law important?

As technologies and government priorities change, the laws and agreements that govern activity in space must also change. Space lawyers get to be a part of this important work.

What is the first legal certificate program for space law?

The first formal legal certificate program for space law studies began in 2008. A few universities offer degrees and other opportunities for formal study. The University of Nebraska offers an LLM and a J.S.D. degree in space, cyber and telecommunications law. The University of Michigan sponsors a Society for Space Law.

What is NASA's mission?

They use government funding to explore deep space and conduct other research. NASA hopes to send humans to Mars.

Who was the first attorney to write a treatise on space law?

The history of space law. In 1942, attorney Andrew G. Haley helped begin the Aerojet company. The company’s founders joked that it was up to Haley to help them behave in outer space. Haley went on to write the treatise Space Law and Government.

What is the NASA procurement program?

The Program is responsible for preventing, detecting, and deterring procurement fraud through education and training of the NASA workforce as well as for supporting the investigation and prosecution of fraud and corruption related to the acquisition process.

What is the Office of the General Counsel responsible for?

The Office of the General Counsel is also responsible for developing the ethics and patent program requirements, establishing metrics, and developing quality standards.

Who was the first person to practice space law?

Andrew G. Haley (1904-1966) is thought to be the first ever practitioner of space law. After helping organize rocket company Aerojet in 1942—with none other than Theodore von Kármán of Kármán line fame—Haley became a founder the International Academy of Astronautics as well as the International Institute of Space Law in 1960.

What is space law?

Space law regulates everything from keeping Earth safe from extraterrestrial contaminants to keeping celestial bodies safe from Earthly contagions. What a bummer it would be to kill potential life on Mars with a contaminant from Earth. In fact, the Committee on Space Research’s Planetary Protection Policy is the precise reason ...

What was space law before the Elon Musk?

Prior to the Elon-Musk-championed Space Captains of Industry Era, space law was mostly concerned with keeping space neutral (and safe). For example, according to the seminal Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and the subsequent Moon Agreement of 1979, no country can own the moon, much less militarize it.

What is the closest law school to space?

The closest thing to an actual space law school in the U.S. is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Doctor of Juridical Science degree in Space Law. To qualify for entry to the J.S.D. Space Law program, you must already have a law degree or a Ph.D. in a related field.

When did space law start?

Space law’s origins are linked to the Space Race. While Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957, space law didn’t become official until 1959 when the United Nations formed the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) which is under the umbrella of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs aka UNOOSA.

Who wrote the first book on space law?

Haley even wrote the first book on the subject; Space Law and Government was published in 1963. Haley is also the founder of space law’s sub-branch metalaw, which concerns itself with the mediation of alien races. Its core tenant is the Interstellar Golden Rule.

Is space law a thing?

While “Space Law School” isn’t a thing quite yet, there are ways to tailor your education to your extraterrestrial career goals. One possible small step in the right direction is to attend a law school that offers courses in space law. Additionally, working in the aeronautics field either as a civilian or with the military could provide valuable experience.

What is NASA doing in 2020?

What's Next For NASA? In 2020, NASA will be taking long strides toward returning astronauts to the Moon, continuing the exploration of Mars and developing new technology to make supersonic aircraft fly more quietly. YouTube.

Who is launching astronauts from American soil?

NASA, Boeing and SpaceX Prepare to Launch Astronauts from American Soil. After uncrewed test flights in 2019, Boeing and SpaceX are getting ready to launch American astronauts from the United States for the first time since the space shuttle's last mission 2011. Commercial spacecraft and rockets already are delivering cargo to the space station, ...

Why do astronauts use the space station?

Astronauts use the space station for exploration technology, advanced life support systems and human and robotic interfaces. It’s a unique microgravity test bed and national laboratory where humans work to benefit life on Earth and prepare for destinations farther into our solar system.

Is the rover going to Mars alone?

NASA's latest mission to Mars -- a mission that will receive a new name before launch -- will be the latest rover to head to the Red Planet, but it's not going alone. To aid it in its exploration, it's carrying the first helicopter that will fly on another planet.