Going Boldly Where No Woman Lawyer Has Gone Before . . The Space Lawyer
New Zealand’s booming space industry has produced one of the world’s first Space lawyers. Rachel Moore & Kate Green spoke with Dr Maria Pozza
Maria Pozza is New Zealand’s only space lawyer. Far from talking to aliens, she spends her time, like many other lawyers, writing and reviewing contracts determine the use of satellites and air space.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bifgxLgQR3c
“Do you have GPS on your phone? Did you check the weather today to work out whether or not it was going to rain?”
If the answer is yes, Pozza says, you used a satellite in order to receive that information, and you’re benefiting from the existence of space law.
“We use space every single day. It’s a direct use, it’s part of our lives. Without it, it really could be very difficult for us if something were to happen to our access to space.”
“Space law looks at not only how the satellite was launched up there, the orbit that it’s in, but it also considers the contract that your phone company will have with the satellite launch operator and with the satellite owner in order to use time so that you can have a look at what the weather forecast is.”
It’s a “really exciting” cross between international and domestic law, she says, as it requires someone to be an expert in both international power structures and relations, as well as those within your own country of practice.
As director of her own law firm Gravity Lawyers, Pozza is well-versed in both, but as the only space lawyer in the country, her career is not always taken seriously.
Although she has been giving presentations on her work since 2010, she is often met with disbelief after revealing her specialisation.
When she first entered the industry, the path was relatively untrodden. You have to be courageous to pursue an area of law that is both different and new.
The most common question, she says, is people asking if she speaks to aliens. She doesn’t, for the record.
Thankfully people are starting to become interested in the more serious aspects of this niche area of law. “It’s great to see more practitioners who are asking good questions about space law and getting involved in it,” she says.
The Untrodden Path
Space law is a new and steadily growing field. As the world increasingly turns to technological solutions to problems, the existence of satellites and communication networks becomes ever more vital.
When she first entered the industry, the path was relatively untrodden. You have to be courageous to pursue an area of law that is both different and new.
“You have to hold true to your morals, and you have to have strong morals, and fortitude, because no one will ever back you the way that you back yourself.”
Although she wishes she had a great story behind her decision to enter space law, preferably along the lines of being hit by a piece of flying space debris, Pozza fell into the industry when researching topics for her Masters of International Studies at Otago University.
Not one to take the path of least resistance, Pozza wanted something new and different to write her thesis on.
Anti-Ballistic Missiles
While trawling the library for inspiration, she found a book on international law, specifically the anti-ballistic missile treaty. Although she’d never heard of it, it struck a chord.
“I looked a little bit more, and that’s where I fell into space law.”
After finishing her PhD, Pozza pursued a legal career as a corporate commercial lawyer with a specialisation in space, or aerospace, law. As the only space lawyer in the country she feels the pressure. “It’s a growing area, so it does mean that there’s a lot going on.”
Pozza has petitioned the government many times throughout the years, pushing for domestic frameworks to deal with space law, and played a part in the introduction of New Zealand’s first space and law policy in late 2017.
“I said many times, we are a perfect place for low-Earth-orbit satellites. Our first language is English, we operate a Westminster system. We need to have something in place.”
When you’re pushing for something that people can’t see a need for, you have to be courageous, she says.
Moral Fortitude
“You’ve got to have strong moral fortitude as well, because there are plenty of people who will try and knock you back.”
Learning to get back up was the hardest part.
The field tends to throw up more questions than answers, Pozza has found.
Pozza’s new firm Gravity Lawyers covers corporate commercial law with specialisation in space law and space, UAV cyber security technology and risk assessments and audits.
She loves the ability to learn new things daily, and make a difference as space is an area of res communis – meaning that it belongs to no one but is for everyone.
She says, “having strong laws to protect an area like that is so important.”
A big issue in space law is when assets in space impact each other, creating space debris.
What’s worse, she says, is “when one piece of space debris collides with another piece of space debris causing even more space debris”.
“It’s a real problem. We rely so much on space and the assets that we use in outer space, that if they’re destroyed or if we can’t access space, it becomes a real security national security issue.”
The field tends to throw up more questions than answers, Pozza has found.
Something she has been pondering of late is what happens when space debris hits the earth. A collection of space debris and meteorites hit Russia in 2013, and the more she thought about it, the more questions she had.
What would happen if a piece of space debris lands in someone’s garden? What if it caused damage to someone’s roof? Who would be responsible, and who would foot the bill?
At this stage, she didn’t have solid answers, but if a piece of space debris fell into your back garden, Pozza first suggests calling the police, and definitely not touching it.
“As more and more non-countries and non-state actors enter outer space, especially from New Zealand because we are very well placed for low-orbit business, then are we going to see more space debris?”
She doesn’t know the answer to that. “I don’t know. I know that in our legal framework, we have mitigation measures in place to limit debris.”
“What about other countries? What are they doing?”
It’s a complex question. “Next time we chat, I might have an answer.”
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What the Daily Mail said –
Is this New Zealand’s coolest job? Space lawyer opens up about her out-of-this world occupation
- Dr Maria Pozza is a space lawyer who deals with the laws that govern outer space
- Her work involves launch site licences, policing space crime and ruling the moon
- International space law involves applying legal jurisdiction to ungoverned area
- Donald Trump’s bid to establish a U.S. Space Force prompts more legal questions
By SAM LOCK FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
The laws that govern outer space – who owns the moon, rocket launch site licences and policing space crime – lies in the hands of one woman.
Dr Maria Pozza is a space lawyer and one of only a tiny handful of specialists attempting to apply international law to an area where legal jurisdiction simply does not exist.
‘[Space] is for everyone but is owned by no one,’ the New Zealand-based lawyer told Radio NZ.
Dr Maria Pozza (pictured) is a space lawyer who deals with laws that govern outer space, including who owns the moon, rocket launch site licences and policing space crime
‘The moon is for everyone but is owned by no one,’ the New Zealand-based lawyer told Radio NZ
Dr Pozza says much of our international law has applications to activities in outer space, such as licensing regimes on launch sites and fuel payload permits which came into effect in New Zealand late last year.
But it’s the question of who owns space that is usually hardest to solve.
There are ‘some territorial claims or argument that there is some extent or extension of territory,’ she explains.
Territorial claims over space are ‘a little bit like the high seas and regions of Antarctica and other areas of the world’ the space specialist says.
In principle, international law views space as ‘res communis’: a Latin term relating to the law of nature which is common to mankind.
Of more recent concern are the laws that govern the international space station, which is owned by varying and different countries, and Donald Trump’s recent interest in establishing a U.S. Space Force. (Pictured: Donald Trump signs a Space Policy Directive in June)
Trump says in June that he wants to create a ‘Space Force’
‘In actual fact there is no formal demarcation as to where air or air law ends and where space or … space law begins,’ Dr Pozza explains.
Of more recent concern are the laws that govern the international space station, which is owned by varying and different countries, and Donald Trump’s recent interest in establishing a U.S. Space Force.
Dr Maria Pozza (pictured) is a space lawyer who deals with laws that govern outer space
‘It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space. We must have American dominance in space,’ Mr Trump said ahead of the National Space Council meeting last month.
‘We are going to have the Air Force and we’re going to have the Space Force. Separate but equal.’
Trump also signed a new Space Policy Directive in June which includes new policies for commercial space regulations in a bid to ease regulations on private industry in space.
It is exactly these issues of liability and questions over commercial uses for outer space that attracted Dr Pozza to working within international space law when she was studying for her PhD.
‘I think there is probably going to be a call by the international community … for some clarification on what Donald Trump has in mind,’ she said.
‘Exactly what that means, what they will be doing and how they will be doing whatever it is they will be doing in compliance with international law.’
Issues of liability and questions over commercial uses for outer space attracted Dr Pozza to working within international space law when she was studying for her PhD (stock image)
