EDITORIAL INFORMATION

UNCOPUOS (United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space) is the central forum for the drafting of space law. So far it has elaborated five treaties and three Resolutions of the U.N. General Assembly governing the peaceful utilization of outer space. Currently four legal problems are discussed in UNCUPUOS' Legal Subcommittee. This book deals in detail with these legal topics under consideration in UNCOPUOS and provides thus an insight in the process of "space law in the making".

The book applies an interdisciplinary approach. The authors combine different backgrounds representing the viewpoints of a lawyer (Marietta Benkö), a political scientist (Kai-Uwe Schrogel), a physicist (Jürgen Gebhard) and an engineer (Detlef Alwes). The chapters begin with a description of the technical basis for the legal approach, taking also into account the different positions of delegations as well as the political and economic background of the debate. The analysis of the agenda items is embraced by an introduction to the working method of UNCOPUOS and a detailed discussion of the space debris problem as a possible future agenda item. Annexed to the chapters are the most important texts of resolutions, declarations, working-papers and other documents.

(Extracted from the press release).

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

-Contents.

-Acknowledgments.

-Preface.

-International Legal Instruments.

-Abbreviations.

-Chapter A: The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
-Chapter B: The Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space.
-Chapter C: The Definition/Delimitation of Outer Space and Outer Space Activities Including Problems Relating to the Free ("Innocent") Passage of Spacecraft Through Foreign Airspace for the Purpose of Reaching Orbit and Returning to Earth.
-Chapter D: Questions Relating to the Character and Utilization of the Geostationary Orbit.
-Chapter E: Legal Aspects Related to the Application of the Principle that the Exploration and Utilization of Outer Space Should Be Carried Out for the Benefits and in the Interest of All States Taking Into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries.
-Chapter F: Space Debris: An Item for the Future.

-Selected Bibliography.

-About the Authors and Editors.

OUR REVIEW

The first volume of the Forum for Air and Space Law takes us into the inner aspects in the work of those who are in charge of looking after the interests of all nations in an issue which might have appeared to be frivolous then, yet one which each passing moment turns out to be more and more important for the future of Mankind: the conquest of deep space. On the way, the publishers show us which the current and multiple legal problems are in this area, as well as the regulating proposals currently being discussed.

Benkö and Schrogl have been in charge of arranging the material, as well as participating in the texts, which show the different points of view from professionals having very different scholarly backgrounds. This is a necessary condition, since a great number of interests, as well as nationalities and ideological viewpoints must come to an agreement. In this sense the book accomplishes its function, that of exposing in a clear way and without an excess of a legal jargon everything which must be thoroughly examined by the United Nations in the near future.