McGill Institute of Air and Space Law

10/09/2026

The Institute of Air and Space Law mourns the passing of one of the pioneers of space law and a distinguished alumnus, Stephen E. Doyle.

Throughout an extraordinary career spanning industry, government, telecommunications, academia, and international organisations, Stephen made lasting contributions to the development of space law and policy. He served on the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) from 1993 to 2001 and was later appointed Honorary Director for Life. In recognition of his remarkable achievements and dedication to the field, he received the IISL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.

Stephen earned a Bachelor's degree, cm laude, in History and English from the University of Massachusetts before obtaining his law degree from Duke University in 1963. That same year, he joined the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law to pursue graduate studies, beginning a lifelong connection with the Institute and the international space law community.

Following his studies at McGill, Stephen held numerous influential positions throughout his career. Among many accomplishments, he worked with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the White House Office of Telecommunications Policy, and NASA, where he served as Deputy Director of the Office of International Affairs.

Stephen's dedication, leadership, and vision helped shape the field of space law and inspired generations of practitioners and scholars around the world. His contributions will leave a lasting legacy within the international space community.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched.

10/09/2026

McGill Strategic Space Law course (26-29 October 2026)

We are excited to share the program for the 12th McGill Annual Strategic Space Law Course!

We have an excellent program of topics and lecturers.

1-Keynote Speaker - Role of Law in Space Activities - Ram Jakhu
2-Introduction to International Law - Andrea Harrington
3-International Space Law - Andrea Harrington
4-Space and its Military Applications - Gilles Doucet
5-Norms of Behaviour in Outer Space - Jessica West, PhD
6-Arms Control in Outer Space - Almudena Azcárate Ortega
7-Implications of AI for Space Law and Governance - Nish*th Mishra
8-Considerations for the Development of National Space Strategy - Steven Freeland
9-Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities - Steven Freeland
10-Cybersecurity Policy, and Standards - Roy Balleste, JSD, PhD, MRAeS
11/12-International Telecommunication Law amp; ITU (2 sessions) - Elina Morozova
13-Counterspace Technologies and Capabilities - Victoria Samson
14-Use of Force, Armed Attack, and Self-Defense - Andrea Buitrago Carranza
15-Intersection of Cybersecurity Law and Outer Space Law - Deborah Housen-Couriel
16-National Security Space Policies - Victoria Samson
17-Law of War and Hostilities in Outer Space - Jimmy Gutzman
18-Commercial/Military Space Services and Transactions - Donna Lawler
19-Space Power and Strategic Implications - Cliff F.
20-Emerging Trends in Space Dispute Resolution: Damages to Assets, Data, and Supply Chains - Deborah Housen-Couriel
21-Regulation of Space Activities in Africa - Arnold Agaba, Ph.D.
22-Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Control - Stuart Eves
23-Scenario-based Interactive Exercise - Andrea Harrington
24-Strategic Challenges in International Space Law - Andrea Harrington

There is still time to register!

Register here:

12th Annual Strategic Space Law course (online edition) presented by McGill's Centre for Research in Air and Space Law (26 - 29 Oct 2026)

10/09/2026

The momentum at the IAC continued yesterday with another eventful day for the Institute. In the morning, Co-Director Andrea Harrington presented an insightful paper examining how science fiction scenarios can inform the governance of planetary defence. The afternoon brought another exciting opportunity, as DCL Candidate Judith S. Jahnke was selected to ask the Head of Azercosmos a question during this year's ISEB programme.

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10/07/2026

Just five days ago, the European Union officially published the long-anticipated revision of its Passenger Rights Regulation, Regulation 261/2004. To help readers understand what this amendment means in practice, Professor Iva Savić has prepared a commentary analysing the most significant changes introduced by the new framework.

Read the commentary here:

Introduction In June 2025, after many years of failed attempts, the Council finally reached a political agreement and adopted its first-reading position on the revision of air passenger rights, which led to opening a new, and, as we would see a year later, final round of the revision of Regulation 2...

10/07/2026

The first two days of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) have already proven eventful for the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law (IASL).

Following a relatively quiet start on Monday, Tuesday brought exciting developments for the Institute's delegation. Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Arnold Agaba, Ph.D. was invited to co-chair the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) session on Information Sharing in Outer Space: Theory and Practice alongside George D. Kyriakopoulos.

At the same time, DCL Candidate Judith S. Jahnke presented her research examining how space technologies can support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Arctic, highlighting the important role that space-based capabilities can play in advancing sustainable development in remote regions.

The IASL delegation will remain in Antalya, Türkiye, throughout the week, continuing to contribute to discussions and scholarly exchanges at the world's leading gathering of space professionals.

10/05/2026

We are delighted to share that our DCL candidate, Martina Elia Vitoloni, has been selected to participate in the 33rd UN/IAF Space Economy Opportunities for Emerging Nations, organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Representing CONSTELAR, Martina delivered a presentation highlighting the valuable contributions of civil society organisations in Argentina to the development of the space sector.

09/25/2026

EASA - European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EAC Civil Aviation Safety & Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), together with the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law, are delighted to have delivered another successful capacity-building programme for the CASSOA Board of Directors in August, focused on RSOO operations in a changing aviation environment.

The Institute is pleased to build on its collaborations with government and regional bodies to upskill and concretise aviation capacity across Africa. A special thank you to the TANZANIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY(TCAA) for their warm and memorable hosting throughout the programme and for enabling the strengthening of regional safety oversight.

09/25/2026

On Tuesday, Professor Vincent Correia, Co-Director of the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law, participated in discussions before the Canadian Senate regarding proposed updates to Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). Reforming the APPR is an important step toward addressing the current backlog of cases while maintaining an appropriate balance between passenger rights and airline interests.

To learn more, please visit:Show editorially warninghttps://sencanada.ca/en/committees/TRCM/meetingschedule/45-1 #?TabSelected=PAST&session=45-1&CommitteeID=1019&PageSize=10&SortOrder=DATEDESC&p=1

09/24/2026

Today marked the conclusion of the second workshop of the Multilingual Interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty (OST) project.

Over two highly productive days, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the French-language version of the OST, advancing a shared understanding of its interpretation across the Treaty’s authoritative languages.

A special thank you to our chapter authors, Félix L. and Professor Vincent Correia; our wonderful rapporteur, Lorena Gualteros-Vanegas; our project organisers, Andrea Harrington and Martina Elia Vitoloni; and all the participants whose dedication and expertise made these discussions possible.

We look forward to sharing the outcomes of this project, which we hope will make a valuable contribution to ongoing discussions on the governance of outer space.

The Multilingual Interpretation of the OST project is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

09/14/2026

We’re pleased to announce the 12th edition of the Strategic Space Law Course, co‑organised with Spectrum Space Security. This four‑day, non‑credit intensive program brings together an international cohort in Montreal for interdisciplinary training on the legal, policy, and operational dimensions of space security.

Participants will engage with world‑class academics, legal advisors, policy specialists, and industry experts from government, civil society, and the commercial sector.

📅 26–30 October

A great opportunity to deepen your expertise in strategic space governance and connect with leading practitioners.

Register here:

12th Annual Strategic Space Law course (online edition) presented by McGill's Centre for Research in Air and Space Law (26 - 29 Oct 2026)