Elon Musk and International Law
About the Speaker
Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. He also co-directs the Outer Space Institute, a global network of space experts united by their commitment to transdisciplinary research that addresses grand challenges in the use and exploration of space. Dr. Byers has been a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford University; a Professor of Law at Duke University; and a Visiting Professor at the universities of Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Nord (Norway) and Novosibirsk (Russia). Together with astrophysicist Aaron Boley, he is the co-author of a new book – Who Owns Outer Space? – published by Cambridge University Press.
Recent Publication
Byers, Michael, and Aaron Boley.
Who Owns Outer Space? International Law, Astrophysics, and the Sustainable Development of Space. Cambridge University Press, 2022.
Abstract
From Space debris to asteroid strikes to anti-satellite weapons, humanity’s rapid expansion into Space raises major environmental, safety and security challenges.
In this book, Michael Byers and Aaron Boley, an inter- national lawyer and an astrophysicist, identify and interrogate these challenges and propose actionable solutions. They explore essential questions, from ‘How do we ensure that all of humanity benefits from the development of Space, and not just the world’s richest people?’ to ‘Is it possible to avoid war in Space?’ Byers and Boley explain the essential aspects of Space science, international law, and global governance in a fully transdisciplinary and highly accessible way. Addressing the latest and emerging developments in Space, they equip readers with the knowledge and tools to engage in current and critically important legal, policy and scientific debates concerning the future development of Space. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.