L16 - Astronauts in the Space Station Era

Question 1

Treaties

Answer 1

• OST – envoys of mankind, all possible assistance in case of accident
• Liability Convention – damage to persons on a space object due to fault from another space object results in liability

Question 2

Training & Operations

Answer 2

• 7 astronauts total allowed (in reality only 6)
o 3 Russians
o 3 Americans
o 1 other
• crew selection and then increment specific training together to learn how to operate ISS and each experiment
• Each partner has the right to provide personnel as soon as that partner provides facilities
o since ESA provides 8.3% of resources they get 6 months every 2 years of an astronaut on expedition crew
• short missions don’t count
• astronaut subject to wide range of obligations
o national laws, code of conduct, laws of country during training
• astronauts are an exception to the cross-waiver of liability
• European astronauts are ESA staff → ESA ensures implementation of CCOC
• not all ESA member states have rules governing liability and astronaut behaviour
• would be good for ISS to be a separate regime legally like the American university system

Question 3

Crew Code of Conduct

Answer 3

• Crew code of conduct determined by all agencies and approved by director level multilateral coordination board
• Different regulations for Space Shuttle flying non-US astronauts
o Limit data disclosed, agree to be subject to commander’s authority, not use assignment for personal gain
• Each agency must inform their astronauts of CCOC
• Disciplinary policy
• cannot make personal gain in space - i.e. can’t sell things that have flown in space even if a spaceflight participant
• Use of force on board ISS - commander can use necessary means to enforce his authority on the station
o specifics on the “means” would need to be detailed in each agency themself
• Non-partner nationals? Space tourists?