Oxford, Mississippi: UM Student Lands NASA Externship, Proposes Improvement for Artemis Accords
In a significant development from the University of Mississippi, a recent Law School graduate procures a prestigious NASA externship and presents a solid concept to improve the Artemis Accords. The student, Caleb Dorris, advocates for stronger regulations to protect lunar resources, as the world intensifies its efforts towards moon exploration.
Tuning the Artemis Accords
Dorris, having recently completed his externship at the UM Center for Air and Space Law, proposed his recommendations during the International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles on May 23. His proposal aims to bolster the Artemis Accords—a guiding template to mitigate lawlessness on the moon concerning habitation, construction, or mining by interested nations—by providing it with enforcement powers.
He expressed concerns over the United Nations’ Outer Space Treaty which stipulates that no person, company, or government can own property in space. In the context of establishing a society based on property rights, the treaty poses a significant obstacle.
A Progressive Proposal
Dorris’s proposal aims to circumnavigate the issues presented by the Outer Space Treaty while keeping the Artemis Accords intact. He introduces the concept of ‘safety certificates’. These certificates would indicate which nations, companies, or entities agree to abide by the Artemis Accords and are consequently considered reputable members.
Through this proposition, these certificates would demonstrate an entity’s commitment towards mitigating harmful interference, protecting space heritage, and maintaining transparency about their research among others. Entities exemplifying good conduct in space would be rewarded with a safety certificate.
Safety certificates would also encourage cooperation within ‘safety zones’, designated in the Artemis Accords for research or resource extraction. Violations of the Accords or any other international space treaty would result in revocation of the safety certificate.
The Impact of Safety Certificates
Dorris believes that while a safety certificate revocation can’t prevent an entity from entering safety zones due to the Outer Space Treaty, it could have other consequences. These could include denial of funding, loss of cooperation, or reputational damage among the Artemis Accord members.
Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Center for Air and Space Law, salutes Dorris’s research. Reflecting on the significance of this work, she stated, “The circumstance of our human existence is about to undergo a seismic shift, and we are so proud that we have students like Caleb leading the way.”
Leaning towards a Safer Lunar Environment
If accepted, these safety certificates could guide us towards a safer lunar environment. However, as Dorris reflects, this is merely a small step in a vast field. “Ultimately in space law, this is still just beginning. There are going to be decades and decades until there’s some sort of actual international-like system for stuff like this, but this is one baby step forward.”
