A Guide to Space Law Terms

Welcome to this site introducing a pre-publication draft of a new Space Law Glossary/Dictionary.

We have only begun this work and view it as an ever-expanding living document. The terms and phrases that are in the document are organized alphabetically in the matrix, which has hyperlinks to the pages with the detailed definitions and usages.

For the present time, this document is being made available to the space law community and other interested parties for:

• COMMENTS
• SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
• CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
• NEW TERMS TO BE ADDED
• NEW USAGES AND REFERENCES FOR THE TERMS AND PHRASES NOW IN THE DOCUMENT

We also especially appreciate comments and additions in the box reserved for non-English nuances to the definitions. If a word or phrase has different interpretations in another language and/or you wish to suggest different usages of the word in foreign language publications, we would welcome your inputs.

Please note that the "simple definition" for each term is aimed at creating an accurate and short explanation in plain English that can be easily understood by non-lawyers and non-native English speaking students and scholars. It is not meant to be all-inclusive, nor is it designed to be used in formal legal documents.

All other definitions and usages include complete citations of their sources. This Glossary, therefore, will also serve as an excellent guide for further research.

We have plans to publish a more polished and complete volume later this year. We are withholding the public circulation of this volume until it is more thoroughly reviewed.

Therefore we have asked that after you log-in, you sign a simple agreement not to duplicate, download, or electronically reproduce any parts of this document.

We also would very much like to have you address any comments directly to the author (hhertzfeld@law.gwu.edu) or to the Secure World Foundation (info@swfound.org).

BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT, I AGREE TO USE THE MATERIAL WITHIN FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND AGREE NOT TO: COPY, DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT, EDIT, CHANGE, OR OTHERWISE ALTER THE CONTENTS. I ALSO AGREE NOT TO DISTRIBUTE THE MATERIALS TO OTHERS WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE SWF AND THE AUTHOR. IF A DEFINITION INCLUDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS USED IN ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENT, WE REQUEST THAT YOU CITE IT IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:

Hertzfeld, Henry R., ed., A Guide to Space Law Terms (pre-publication edition), Washington, D.C.: Published by the Secure World Foundation, February 2012.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and help in making this a more accurate and thorough document that we hope will be a useful addition to your space law library and future research.