Space Law

2016 MANFRED LACHS SPACE LAW MOOT COURT COMPETITION

Team No. 18

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IN THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE AT THE

PEACE PALACE, THE HAGUE

Case Concerning Space Debris, Commercial Spaceflight Services and Liability

The Republic of Banché v.

The Republic of Rastalia

ON SUBMISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE MEMORIAL FOR THE APPLICANT

The Republic of Banché

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS        I

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS        IV

QUESTIONS PRESENTED        XIV

STATEMENT OF FACTS        XV

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS        XXI

ARGUMENT        1

1. PART: RASTALIA VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL LAW BY REFUSING TO RETURN COULEUR AND COMMANDER BORSCH TO BANCHÉ AND REFUSING THE EARLIER RETURN OF MS. PAULA TO BANCHÉ.        1

1. Rastalia violated international law by refusing to return Couleur to Banché        1

1. Rastalia violated ARRA by refusing to return Couleur        1

1. Couleur is a space object        1
2. Banché is the launching authority        2
3. Banché demanded the return of Couleur        3

1. By refusing to return Couleur Rastalia neglected general principles of international  law        3

1. Rastalia violated provisions of ARRA and OST by the delay in return of Ms. Paula... 4

1. Couleur is a spacecraft.        4
2. Banché is the launching authority        5
3. Ms. Paula is a part of the personnel of the spacecraft.        5
4. The landing of Couleur on Rastalia’s soil represents emergency landing and it occurred due to an accident.        6
5. Rastalia is a contracting party        8
6. Rastalia has to return Ms. Paula “promptly”        8
7. Rastalia has to inform the launching authority and UN Secretary-General.        9

1. Rastalia violated provisions of ARRA and OST by refusing to return Commander Borsch        10

1. Rastalia violated provisions of ARRA and OST by refusing to return Commander Borsch to Banché        10

1. Couleur is a spacecraft.        11
2. Banché is the launching authority        11
3. Commander Borsch is a part of the personnel of the spacecraft.        11
4. The landing of Couleur on Rastalia soil represents emergency landing and it occurred due to an accident.        11
5. Rastalia is a contracting party        11

1. Rastalia disregarded limitation for granting the asylum imposed by ARRA        12

1. Commander Borsch was not faced with persecution in Banché        12
2. Rastalia has no right to grant asylum        13

1. PART: RASTALIA IS LIABLE UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW FOR THE DAMAGE TO COULEUR        14

1. Rastalia is liable for the damage to Couleur according to OST        14

1. Rastalia is liable for the damage to Couleur according to Art VI OST.        14
2. Distinction between Responsibility and Liability        14

1.2.1 Liability and Responsibility within OST.        15

1.2.2. Responsibility for non-governmental entities according to Art VI OST.        16

1. Lavotto-1 is a space object.        17
2. Rastalia launched Lavotto-1.        17
3. Rastalia is liable for damages in outer space, caused by their space objects according to Art III OST.        18

1. Banché claims damages pursuant to the LIAB.        18

1. Rastalia is a launching state        19
2. Causation is proved; indirect damage caused by a space object is given.        19

1. Banché acted in conformity with international law by dealing with Rastalia’s space debris.        20

1. Lavotto constitutes space debris        21
2. The Lavotto-1 space debris endangers the safe use of space environment and        21
3. Obligation to prevent or at least to minimize the risks related to space debris.        22
4. Principle of good neighborliness        23
5. Rastalia’s abandonment of Lavotto 1 is legally ineffective        24

PART III: RASTALIA IS NOT ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FROM BANCHÉ AS A RESULT OF THE EVACUATION OF LAKE TAIPO, THE DEATH OF BOTH MR. THOMAS AND MR. BARTON AND AS A RESULT OF THE RECOVERY OF COULEUR PURSUANT TO LIAB, OST AND ARRA AND DUE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.        25

1. Rastalia is not entitled to compensation from Banché as a result of the evacuation of Lake Taipo.        25

1. Rastalia’s expenses for the evacuation of Lake Taipo are not recoverable under LIAB.

.............................................................................................................................................. 26

1. There is no causal link between Banché’s actions and the evacuation of Lake Taipo.. 28

1. Banché shall be exonerated from the liability for the loss of life of Mr. Thomas and Mr. Barton according to Art VI LIAB.        29

1. Rastalia is responsible for its dysfunctional satellite        30
2. Rastalia failed to comply with the principle of due diligence        32

1. Rastalia violated its duties under public international law by using untested material for the construction of Lavotto-1.        33
2. Couleur’s mission was in conformity with internationally accepted standards.        35

1. Banché is not liable under Art VII OST        37

2. Rastalia cannot claim compensation for medical expenses for Commander Borsch since Rastalia is obliged to rescue Commander Borsch and to bear all the necessary costs for it under ARRA        38

1. Rastalia is not entitled to compensation from Banché as a result of the recovery of Couleur due to the principles of International law.        39

1. Banché is entitled to reduce its payment for the recovery of Couleur in total to an amount of zero percent.        39
2. Rastalia cannot bring a claim under Art VII OST and Art III LIAB        40

1. Rastalia was at fault according to Art III LIAB        40
2. There is causation between Rastalia´s action and the damage to Couleur under Art VII OST and Art III LIAB        41
3. Rastalia acted with gross negligence according to Art VIII OST.        42

SUBMISSIONS TO THE COURT        43

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Alb.        Albania

ARRA        Agreement   on   the   Rescue   of   Astronauts,   the   Return   of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer  Space

Art        Article

Arts        Articles

Banché        Republic of Banché

CISG        Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods Compromis        Agreed Statement of Facts

CoCoSL        Cologne Commentary on Space Law

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