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8 Indian J.L. & Just. 108 (2017)
Impact of Outer Space Activities on the Global Environment: Issues and Remedies under International Space Law

handle is hein.journals/ijlj8 and id is 118 raw text is: IMPACT OF OUTER SPACE ACTIVITIES ON THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT: ISSUES AND REMEDIES UNDER INTERNATIONAL SPACE LAW Usasi Bannerjee1 Prof. (Dr.) Rathin Bandyopadhyay2 I. Introduction The origin of space law can be traced back to the time when Satellite Sputnik -1 was launched on Oct 4, 1957. From then the world started a new way of thinking. Though the Space Law is still in its nascent form, it is an evolving branch of the International Law. It has been developing under the aegis of the United Nations of General Assembly. The exploration and its importance were long recognised. The silent race between the USA and the Soviet Union was much in evidence. The USSR took the first tiny step with the launch of the Sputnik satellite on October 4, 1957. Compared to the current utilisation, exploitation and future plans for space, it was indeed a 'baby' step. The Sputnik satellite was a polished metal sphere of a mere 58 cm diameter with four external radio antennae, and it was launched into a low earth orbit. The signals from the satellite lasted only till October 26, 1957, for only 22 days, as the batteries got discharged. Hence the technological claim to fame of the Sputnik satellite was that it was the first satellite launched into space and not really for any other reason. II. Concept of Air Space and Outer Space 2.a) Outer Space: The concept of outer space has no single accepted and technical definition. There are some proposed definitions of outer space, like; any of space beyond limits determined with reference to the boundaries of a celestial body or system, especially the region of space immediately beyond Earth's atmosphere and Inter-planetary space3. There are different opinions and definitions of Outer Space and upper Atmosphere as given in relation to legal language. There are interchangeable terms having different legal and scientific meaning like Space, Outer Space, Air Space, Extra-Territorial Space, Cosmic Space, Extra-Atmospheric Space, World Space, Contiguous Space, Territorial Space etc. So there is urgent need to have a single universally accepted definition of Outer Space, to I LL.M. Dept. of Law. University of North Bengal 2 Professor, Dept. of Law and Head, Dept. of Management, University of North Bengal. 3 Outer space, available at http://www.thefreedictionary.com/outer+space (last visited on January 28,2016)

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