Join a discussion between an attorney and a hypothetical space startup with a business model to collect abandoned objects in Low Earth Orbit and mine local asteroids for exotic minerals. Can a business extract minerals from celestial bodies? Can abandoned objects in space be retrieved for the valuable metals remaining in the “space junk”? Attorney Charles Lee Mudd Jr. will maneuver the NewSpace audience through these issues and more in the context of advising a hypothetical space startup. You will hear about the Outer Space Treaty and its ambiguities relating to mining celestial objects. You will learn about the law of salvage, abandonment, and “finds” as it relates to nonfunctional spacecraft. You will depart understanding the nuances of property rights in the “graveyard orbit.” In fact, you may very well conclude with your own idea for the next space startup. Come join a thought provoking discussion on real efforts to develop the space economy and the governing space law and policy.
Charles Lee Mudd Jr. is the founder and principal of Mudd Law Offices. Over the last sixteen years, Mr. Mudd has developed a broad-based practice representing local, national, and international clientele in diverse litigation and transactional matters with offices in Chicago, Houston, and Park City. He has become internationally known on issues of technology, intellectual property, and the Internet. He regularly speaks on such topics at venues such as Minecon, SXSW, iTechLaw, and multiple bar meetings internationally. He has appeared in national media including NPR and Rolling Stone Magazine and has taught courses at John Marshall Law School and the University of Connecticut School of Law. Charles is a founding member of the Internet Law Leadership Summit and serves as a Board Member of the International Technology Law Association. Over the last year, Charles has positioned his firm and practice at the forefront of space law and the expanding commercial space industry.
This is part of a continuing series of space entrepreneurship discussion and networking forums presented by NewSpace Chicago and hosted at mHUB Chicago.
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2019
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue: mHUB Chicago event space
Location: 965 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL (Get Directions)
RSVP: Sign up through EventBrite.com
Free parking available in the mHUB parking lot after 5:00pm.
Requested donation for this event is $5. NewSpace Chicago is a registered Illinois 501(c)(3) organization. Your tax-deductible donation helps support the entrepreneurial space industry in Chicago.