Who owns the vast riches of space? We know that there are great deposits of materials of great value on the Moon, in asteroids, and scattered throughout the solar system. The spacefaring powers of Earth will seek them out to support our expansion throughout cislunar space and beyond. But to avoid the resource-related conflicts that have plagued us on Earth for centuries, new legal regimes much evolve to supplement and, in some cases, replace existing legal structures. We are seeing some of the first attempts at formal policy with the Artemis Accords, but these are not yet universally accepted and only begin to cover the many needs of a truly spacefaring species. Join some of the top legal scholars in space law as we strive to see the future of policy in the domain of space.
| Morning Session · 10:00 am – 12:00 noon | |
| Global Governance and the Future of Space Activity | |
| 10:00 am | Welcome RemarksKarlton Johnson — National Space Society |
| 10:05 am | NSS at UN COPUOS: Building Credibility, Contribution, and the Role of Civil Society in Space GovernanceFredrick Jenet — NSS International Committee |
| 10:20 am | The Role of Multilateral Governance in the Next Era of Space ActivityAarti Holla-Maini — United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs |
| 10:45 am | The U.S. Perspective on Space Governance and International CoordinationValda Vikmanis — Office Of Space Affairs, U.S. State Department |
| 11:00 am | Commercial Leadership and the Future of Space GovernanceTBD |
| 11:15 am | Panel: Governance, Coordination, and the Future Space OrderAarti Holla-Maini (UNOOSA) and Valda Vikmanis (U.S. State Dept) | Moderator: Fredrick Jenet |
| 12:00 noon — Break | |
| Afternoon Session · 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm | |
| 2:00 pm | Welcoming RemarksFredrick Jenet — NSS International Committee |
| 2:05 pm | Opening RemarksGrant Henriksen — NSS Policy Committee |
| Part I: Who Governs the Moon? From Artemis to Settlement | |
| 2:10 pm | Lawfare on the Moon: Who Writes the Rules?Michelle Hanlon — Air and Space Law at Ole Miss |
| 2:35 pm | IOAG Report on LunaNet Governance: Coordination and Governance in the Initial PhaseJames Schier — NASA, retired |
| 3:00 pm | Legal Architecture for Sustainable Lunar SettlementJames Anthony Wolff — Greenspoon Marder LLP |
| 3:25 pm | NSS Student Space Settlement Contest Presentation |
| 3:50 pm | Beyond Artemis: From Lunar Base to Lunar EconomySteven Wolfe — Beyond Earth Institute |
| 4:00 pm — Short Break | |
| Part II: The Expanding Space Order: Law, Markets, Sustainability, and Security | |
| 4:00 pm | Best Practices in Shaping National Space Law: Lessons from the United States for Emerging Space NationsDr. Zsófia Biró — Center for Air and Space Law, University of Mississippi |
| 4:25 pm | Astrosalvage: An Examination of a Nascent IndustryGrant Henriksen — NSS Policy Committee |
| 4:50 pm | A Marriage of Necessity: Dark and Quiet Skies for the Protection of Astronomy and Commercial Satellite DevelopmentDavid Schuman — University of Vienna |
| 5:15 pm | From Earthbound Economies to Spacefaring Strategy: The Legal Rise of the BRICS GroupKathleen Brett — Secure World Foundation |
| 5:40 pm | From Peaceful Use to Strategic Competition: Governing Security in SpaceKarlton Johnson — National Space Society |
| 6:00 pm — End | |
Space Policy
Session Chair Info
Dr. Fredrick Jenet
National Space Society Board of Directors
Fredrick (Rick) Jenet, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of Expanding Frontiers, a nonprofit organization based in Brownsville, Texas, with a mission to foster the growth of a commercial space ecosystem. Dr. Jenet is an experienced entrepreneur, visionary researcher, and innovative educator, having founded several initiatives in Texas that are fostering the development of a state and national ecosystem for space exploration and commercialization. He is the founder of Read More
Space Policy
Session Speakers Info
Aarti Holla-Maini
Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Aarti Holla-Maini is the Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), having taken up post on 18th September 2023 following her appointment by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Ms. Holla-Maini brings over 25 years of experience in the space and satellite sector, working predominantly with international organizations and regulators. Prior to the United Nations, she held the post of Secretary-General of the Global Satellite Operators Association. Under Read More
Zsófia Biró
Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Center for Air and Space Law, University of Mississippi
Dr. Zsófia Biró, PhD, LL.M. is a space policy expert and legal scholar with an interdisciplinary background in law, economics, finance, and innovation. She holds a PhD in Law, an LL.M. in Energy Law, an MSc in Finance, and specialized postgraduate qualifications in energy management and space policy. As a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of Mississippi Center for Air and Space Law, she conducts comparative research on U.S. Read More
Kathleen Brett
Program Analyst, Space Security & Stability, Secure World Foundation
Ms. Kathleen Brett is a Program Analyst, Space Security and Stability for Secure World Foundation focused on space security and sustainability. In her role, she supports grant-based initiatives, focused on strengthening strategic stability at the nexus of nuclear and space security. Ms. Brett presented on behalf of SWF at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna, Austria, and collaborated with the United Nations Institute Read More
Michelle Hanlon
Executive Director, Air and Space Law at Ole Miss
Michelle L.D. Hanlon is a leading American space lawyer and advocate for responsible space exploration. Dubbed “Godmother of Space Law,” she serves as Executive Director of the Center for Air and Space Law at Ole Miss. She is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Space Law. Hanlon is co-founder, President, and CEO of For All Moonkind, the only nonprofit dedicated to protecting humanity’s cultural heritage in outer space. Under her leadership, Read More
Grant Henriksen
Policy Committee Chair, National Space Society
Grant Henriksen is an expert in space law and policy whose career bridges technical insight, legislative strategy, and political advocacy. His interests in space include remote sensing, international law, space commerce, the history of spaceflight, space sustainability, and exploitation of extraterrestrial resources. As Chair of the Policy Committee at the National Space Society, he leads national political advocacy campaigns and the development the official NSS space policy. Before entering the Read More
James Schier
Chief Architect for Space Communications and Navigation, NASA (Ret.)
Jim Schier was Chief Architect for NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation Program. He led definition of the evolution of NASA’s architecture for Communications, Networking, Position, Navigation, and Timing services for the Moon and Mars for future science and exploration missions. He chaired the Interagency Operations Advisory Group (IOAG), an association of 15 national space agencies that develops and recommends means for achieving interoperable communications and navigation capabilities. Most recently, he Read More
David Schuman
Attorney-Adviser, NASA Office of General Counsel (ret.), University of Vienna
Mr. Schuman was lead counsel for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Project from inception through launch and operation, as well as the Roman Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, and other projects of international significance. He spent nearly 35 years with the government, before moving to Vienna, Austria, to support his wife’s career. Mr. Schuman provided legal advice to senior officials at the Goddard Space Flight Center which has the nation’s Read More
Steven Wolfe
President and Co-Founder, Beyond Earth Institute
Steven Wolfe is the President and Co-Founder of the Beyond Earth Institute, a non-profit think tank whose mission is to establish and sustain a policy and legal framework that enables economically vibrant communities beyond Earth. He is also the Deputy Executive Director for Global Spaceport Alliance, a trade organization that advocates on behalf of spaceport operators worldwide. Steve is a partner at CWSP International, a consulting firm serving clients’ needs Read More
James Anthony Wolff
Partner, Greenspoon Marder LLP
James Anthony Wolff is a partner at Greenspoon Marder LLP and a space, AI, and emerging technologies attorney focused on the legal and capital architecture of frontier industries. His work spans space policy, planetary defense finance, and the structuring of mission-driven ventures operating at the intersection of law, science, and long-term risk. In 2023, he was a co-founder recipient of a NASA award for advanced space systems research, followed by Read More