Secure World Foundation Advisory Committee Member Rachel Yates Presents at University of Colorado Law School

Rachel Yates, attorney and partner at Holland & Hart law firm, presented today on the subject of U.S. and state law as they apply to space tourism, an emerging space market.

Before an audience of 25 law students, Rachel described the current state of the law and how the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation applies regulations derived from the CFR regarding commercial orbital and suborbital launches. In addition, the laws of the States of Florida, New Mexico and Virginia were discussed in this context.

Rachel also provided a mock scenario to help illustrate the anticipated challenges of the law as it applies to passenger flights into space. Such matters as "inherent risk," "absolute liability" and "neglegence" were discussed in detail.

Rachel will be chairing a panel on the matter of space law and policy at the 2009 National Space Symposium sponsored by the Space Foundation. She also authored a recent article entitled "Informal Regulation of Space Activities" in the 2008 Nebraska Law Review, Volume 87, Number 2. The article provides an excellent brief on the current state of U.S. law as applied to commercial launch activities.