Space policy Notes on Space Law and policy Derived from multiple sources. Please see bibliography at end of notes mportant Lecture themes Space law"is international law, governed by treaties and custom Space policy"is set by individual nations or subgroups within a nation, and typically applies only to a single nation or subgroup within a nation Success of the Outer Space Treaty Failure of the Moon Treaty Leadership"component to US national space policy International law International law from several sources chief among them being treaties and custom. Treaties seem an obvious example to the casual observer, and can be enacted bilaterally between two nations, or multilaterally between several countries often with the assistance of the United Nations (UN). They are signed, formal, legal documents However, custom was the first player, and still an important one, in creating international law. Custom is defined as"general principles of international law not embodied in any treaty but observed, and considered binding, by civilized nations". In addition, commentaries from respected law critics are given due weight in defining international law, as well as resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, as they are seen as expressing an international consensus. And not to be neglected is the role of international politics, which at times contributes a large share to international law From the above, international law seems a vague and nebulous topic at best, and certainly appears to lack apparent enforcement mechanisms. Unlike violating the civil laws of a nation, there are relatively few expressly defined punishments for violating international law. Economic sanctions and embargoes are largely boli certainly arresting the "offender".usually an established nation well equipped with armies and munitions-is an impossibility Thus, nations are faced with unclear guidelines and unenforceable punishments that govern their interactions. But yet, more times than not, nations abide by the rules o international law. There are several reasons for this as well as reasons for breaking them from time to time. (a)A system of international law is in the general interest of all nations. It permits business to transact, travel to take place, and cooperation to ensue in health care areas (b) Cooperation among nations is imperfect because humans are involved Humans tend to forget what was agreed upon from time to time, but the formality of a treaty helps to solidify what was agreed upon and serve as a base for negotiating good-and bad-faith disputes that may arise in the futureSpace Policy Notes on Space Law and Policy Derived from multiple sources. Please see bibliography at end of notes. Important Lecture Themes • "Space law" is international law, governed by treaties and custom • "Space policy" is set by individual nations or subgroups within a nation, and typically applies only to a single nation or subgroup within a nation. • Success of the Outer Space Treaty • Failure of the Moon Treaty • "Leadership" component to US national space policy International Law International law arises from several sources, chief among them being treaties and custom. Treaties seem an obvious example to the casual observer, and can be enacted bilaterally between two nations, or multilaterally between several countries often with the assistance of the United Nations (UN). They are signed, formal, legal documents. However, custom was the first player, and still an important one, in creating international law. Custom is defined as "general principles of international law not embodied in any treaty but observed, and considered binding, by civilized nations". In addition, commentaries from respected law critics are given due weight in defining international law, as well as resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, as they are seen as expressing an international consensus. And not to be neglected is the role of international politics, which at times contributes a large share to international law. From the above, international law seems a vague and nebulous topic at best, and certainly appears to lack apparent enforcement mechanisms. Unlike violating the civil laws of a nation, there are relatively few expressly defined punishments for violating international law. Economic sanctions and embargoes are largely of symbolic importance, and certainly arresting the "offender" - usually an established nation well equipped with armies and munitions - is an impossibility. Thus, nations are faced with unclear guidelines and unenforceable punishments that govern their interactions. But yet, more times than not, nations abide by the rules of international law. There are several reasons for this as well as reasons for breaking them from time to time: (a) A system of international law is in the general interest of all nations. It permits business to transact, travel to take place, and cooperation to ensue in health care areas. (b) Cooperation among nations is imperfect because humans are involved. Humans tend to forget what was agreed upon from time to time, but the formality of a treaty helps to solidify what was agreed upon and serve as a base for negotiating good- and bad-faith disputes that may arise in the future