Mr Scott Steele

2015 – 2018: University of Sunderland - Bachelor of Law (LLB) Law (Hons): Dissertation Title: The UK Constitution: How the Miller Case changed and challenged the sovereignty of Parliament and tested the UK's constitutional resolve?

2018 – 2019: Newcastle University - Master of Laws (LLM) International Law: Dissertation Title: How does International law deal with the removal of space debris?

2019 – 2023: The Future of The COSPAR Planetary Protection Guidelines: Space Governance and Astrobiology

My current project is 'The future of the COSPAR Planetary Protection Guidelines: Space governance and astrobiology'. As a member of AstrobiologyOU and OU Law School, I am one of two members specialising in the subject of space governance. Working alongside colleagues, I can consider space sciences, technology, and law to ask the question of how can COSPAR be used for planetary protection during space activities, in which contamination does not occur in the space environment.

My thesis will develop a socio-legal and doctrinal approach, with the aim of highlighting:

1. Evaluating the role of COSPAR planetary protection guidelines as a tool of space governance;
2. Enhancing the way in which laws, guidelines, and best practices can effectively protect pristine environments;
3. Developing regulations and guidance models to maximise the balance between human exploration and protecting pristine extra-terrestrial environments.  

My future aspirations include cross-discipline publishing, attending and presenting at conferences and developing a successive network of individuals who share in space sustainability goals.

2021

International Astronautical Congress (IAC) -

IAF Space Transportation Solution and Innovations Symposium IAF (D2) Emerging Global Space Ventures, including Reusability and other Innovations (9-D6.2) – The Outlook of human spaceflight in 2070: Considerations and arising legal issues.

IISL Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space (E7) Interactive Presentations – International space law and hindrance to space activities?

IISL Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space (E7) International cooperation on the way to the Moon and Mars (2) – Public-private partnerships; The preferred method for space, or an enhancement of international space law?

International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) –

An actionable and reasonable view on the removal of space debris in a building block exercise for the future of space governance and sustainability

Human Spaceflight in 2070: As space agencies are working toward sending humans back to the Moon, what will we be doing in 50 years? Will we have settlers on the Moon or even Mars?

Can international law provide a basis for actively removing space debris?

Leicester law school postgraduate research conference –

The future of the COSPAR Planetary Protection Guidelines: Space Governance and Astrobiology.

2020

International Astronautical Congress (IAC) -

IAF symposium on space security (E9) Virtual Presentations – Can international law provide a basis for actively removing space debris?

IAF Space transportation solutions and innovation symposium (D2) Emerging Global Space Ventures (9-D6.2) – The Outlook of Human Spaceflight in 2070

The Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) –

Can international law provide the basis for actively removing space debris?

IISL Symposium on Maintaining the Rule of Law in Outer Space in an Age of Rapid Innovation-

Is Humanity’s return to the Moon: Maintaining the Rule of Law in the Age of Artemis?

British International Studies Association (BISA) –

Sustaining the Outer Space Environment: Now and in the Future (Virtual Roundtable)

Committee of Space Research (COSPAR) –

Planetary Protection Policy (PPP.1) - A new perspective on an old consideration: Backwards contamination. The sleeping conundrum to scientific investigation and the future cornerstone of space governance.