The Difficulties Of Space Cooperation In Latin America

The cooperation on space exploration is an essential element to achieve significant progress in developing countries especially given the needs and costs of exploration. In the Latin American region, the vast majority of countries have little experience in space but they have many interests in common. So far, the cooperation among these countries has been nonexistent or very recent. Nevertheless, the region has common needs and common problematic, cooperation has been essentially cooperation between countries in the region with developed countries or space faring nations. Although this cooperation has allowed the development of national activities in countries like Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela, the need to respond to the aspirations of nations it's essential a regional cooperation. Several major attempts have been done to establish regional cooperation. This process began in 1991 with the Space Conference of the Americas. In the 6 meetings held so far, much progress has been made and many space agencies were created. However, no projects have been created and the future of this mechanism is uncertain. Another attempt resulted in a spatial cooperation UNASUR meeting in which it was determined the creation of a regional agency, but neither has seen concrete results. Recently under the impetus of the International academy of astronautics (IAA), international experts, academia and the head of the regional agencies had declared the importance of establishing a regional cooperation mechanism. From this meeting turned the idea of creating an Alliance of space agencies, as a mechanism for creating common projects and as a forum for possible projects and contributions of the region. However, these initiatives have not achieved the objectives nor had real developments. Finally, the last proposal is the creation of a network of universities interested in the development of space activities in Latin America to achieve cooperation from research, as in Europe. This paper aims to show the evolution of the regional cooperation in Latin America and seeks to expose the recent initiative on the network of universities in Latin America as an initial solution to the lack of cooperation in the region.

This book examines and proposes a legal framework for the creation of a regional space agency for Latin America especially in regard of pivotal aspects such as institutional structures, transfer of competences and cooperation agreements facilitating Latin America to act with one voice on the international space stage. It demonstrates how the European Space Agency (ESA), as regional space agency for Europe and its experiences for more than 50 years, may serves as model for such a regional forum in Latin America in view of required structures and rules to enable common peaceful space activities on regional level for the development of Latin American states and for the benefit of their societies.

This book examines the background and context of Latin America's political and socioeconomic landscape with a focus on space activities. Firstly, it discusses Latin America's contribution to this sector from an international relations perspective, and explores the debates around the establishment of a Latin American Space Agency. It then highlights space-related capacity building, Latin America’s participation in UNCOPUOS, and international space activities, agreements, and initiatives in Latin America. The second part is devoted to the national space infrastructures and space activities of Latin American states. It analyzes various spacefaring countries in the context of their intra-regional space relations and initiatives as well as their bi-lateral cooperation programs. This timely book is of interest to scholars and professionals working in the space field, especially those in Latin America and other emerging countries.

Of U.S. international S & T agreements by country -- Cooperative activities in Venezuela since the signing of the U.S.-Venezuela S & T agreement -- Enhancing scientific and technological cooperation with Latin America: a non-governmental view -- International scientific cooperation and the development of new knowledge in the western hemisphere.

With the end of the Cold War, the main question regarding the space race is whether it will become a co-operative venture. This text describing the the European Space Agency shows how such a co-operative enterprise has worked over the past 30 years and how

Manfred Lachs’ famous treatise on the Law of Outer Space was originally published in 1972, yet it is still a classic and must-read text for space law students today. Issued on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the International Institute of Space Law, of which Lachs was President, this volume reproduces the original text of Lachs' work in full, with a new preface, introduction and index supplied by the editors.