The Nuclear Option for Planetary Defense: Some Legal Impediments

The task of diverting a potentially hazardous asteroid is, of course, overwhelmingly a problem for science and technology, but there are some interesting, intricate legal issues as well. In this session, the key planetary defense questions arising from international law will be presented and parsed, and potential solutions explored. Some of the most profound legal hurdles arise from the potential application of a nuclear explosive device in space; three prominent, widely-adhered-to treaties restrict any such operation. Other unresolved impediments arise from the stringent international legal regime applying strict financial liability for damage, if something goes wrong. International lawyers have addressed these issues and treaty texts, and proposed some not-fully-satisfactory options to be considered in this session.