[PASSED] Space Transport and Astronomical Research

[Ballotonia]

Space Transport and Astronomical Research

Proposed By: Alainian OttersㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤDebate: Right Here!

The General Assembly,

Recognizing the need for international cooperation in outer space, as the shared fabric of the universe that binds all known life, a medium which is becoming increasingly reachable for developing life,

Motivated by a desire to cooperate on preserving access to, and promoting research of, this medium, through international partnership,

Pursuing collaboration on space research and exploration under the framework of national sovereignty, respecting the internal affairs of member nations while promoting cooperation that will prove beneficial to the World Assembly at large,

Hereby defines as follows:

1. Outer Space: The all-encompassing expanse of vacuum in between celestial objects, including but not limited to stars, planetary bodies, and nebulae.
2. Spacecraft: A flight-capable vehicle operated within outer space by a civilization.
3. Civilian Spacecraft: A spacecraft that is owned or operated for non-military use.

Hereby enacts as follows:

1. The Space Transport and Astronomical Research (STAR) Administration is hereby established with the following directives:
   
   1. Promoting international research and understanding of outer space, in the interest of uninvasive international cooperation and for the benefit of member nations.
   2. Publishing credible research findings regarding aeronautical travel and outer space phenomena, in cases where such research benefits the international community.
   3. Promoting technology sharing, with consent of any involved parties, to expedite safe, sustainable space travel in developing member nations.
   4. Collaborating with member nations and any further programs established by the General Assembly as needed to minimize internationally relevant risks deriving from spacefaring operations.
2. Member nations are encouraged to follow any applicable guidelines established by the STAR Administration on the topic of inspecting civilian spacecraft, for the purposes of verifying operational, mechanical, and structural soundness, for the purposes of reducing casualties.
   
   1. Member nations are encouraged to ensure that their spacecraft can last for the whole mission that they will be used for.
   2. Member nations are encouraged to ensure that their spacecraft undergo extensive structural tests and extensive mechanical tests for the purposes of preventing fuel and chemical leakages, as well as averting other dangerous issues that may arise.
3. Member nations, when operating in shared terrestrial orbits, are highly encouraged to coordinate with the STAR Administration to the extent needed to avoid, or reduce to the fullest, the risk of unintended collision between spacecraft, satellites, and other structures.
   
   1. For the purpose of resolving emergency situations, member nations are encouraged to share communication channels and contact procedures for civilian spacecraft operating in the same terrestrial orbits.
4. The STAR Administration shall respect the sovereignty of all member states regarding exploration, studying, and missions into outer space.
   
   1. The STAR Administration shall have zero authority to pass discipline onto nations.

Co-authors: Centennium, New Ryansville

Please, feel free to give us any feedback or suggestions! The version shown is our initial draft, so things are bound to change. The purpose of this resolution is to set up an uninvasive framework for international cooperation in the field of space research, and to encourage nations to exercise safety when launching or operating spacecraft ^-^

[Untecna]

Would encourage changing the semi-colons in the definitions section to colons.

[The Ice States]

"We would suggest firstly placing the definitions in a bulleted list, secondly changing the sublist in 1(c) to use lowercase Roman instead of repeating alphabetical, and thirdly ending Section 3 with a period instead of a comma. Fourth, I'm not quite sure of the purpose of using binding language in Section 3 when 4(a) prohibits that language from being enforced."

~Bernd Seidel,
World Assembly Ambassador,
The Eternal Union of Devonia and the Ice States.

[Idinist]

Quite a few wording changes, of varying levels of nitpick - please do reject any that go too far:

• I'd suggest replacing the usage of 'void' (in the definition of 'outer space') with 'vacuum', as its a little more precise.
• Clause 1a: with the current definition of outer space, as a singular 'expanse of void', using 'the outer space' in this clause implies that its provisions apply to a specific singular area of outer space - I'd recommend a change to 'all outer space' or an amendment to the definition to reflect the meaning of 'all expanses of void between celestial objects'. I also find it strange that this clause states that international research shall be promoted 'in the interest of uninvasive international cooperation' - this reads as if said research will be conducted with a major aim of cooperation, which isn't really why we conduct research!
• Clause 1b: 'phenomenon' (singular) here should be replaced with 'phenomena' (plural).
• Clause 1c: the ordering here is a little odd and makes the clause a bit harder to parse. I'd suggest moving around the sub-clauses so that it reads something like 'Collaborating [...] by the General Assembly as needed to minimize risk [...] in outer space, on a non-exhaustive list of topics [...]' - i.e. switch around 'non-exhaustive list' and 'as needed to minimize risk'.
• Clause 2a: the 'at any point' seems extraneous here. The use of 'exhaustive' does suggest that the STAR Administration may be required to create a non-exhaustive set of guidelines, at least to my eye. Given how I interpret the purpose of this clause, I'd also suggest removing 'exhaustive'. I'd suggest replacing the contractions as well.

[First Territory]

To make the proposal easier to parse, I suggest altering the wording in clause 3 as:

3. To avoid or reduce to the fullest the risk of unintended collision between spacecraft in outer space, member nations operating on shared terrestrial worlds are encouraged to:

1. share contact frequencies and procedures for civilian spacecraft operating in the same terrestrial orbits, for the purpose of resolving emergency situations; and
2. coordinate with the STAR Administration to the minimum extent, unless member nations are already directly coordinating with other parties in a terrestrial orbit.

or, if I understand what this clause tries to accomplish correctly, I suggest modifying it as:

3. Member nations operating on shared terrestrial world are encouraged to avoid or reduce to the fullest the risk of unintended collision between spacecraft in outer space by:

1. Sharing communication channels and emergency procedures of civilian spacecraft operating in the same terrestrial orbits for the purpose of resolving emergency situation; and
2. Coordinating with relevant parties to the minimum extent, with the STAR Administration as an intermediary when direct coordination cannot be established.

I struck off the "for the purpose of resolving emergency situation", as it seems to stray away from the main clause's purpose "to avoid or reduce to the fullest the risk of unintended collision between spacecraft in outer space".

Of course, a more proficient writer with more experience of writing proposals can probably point out problems in my own modifications, and the changes I suggested her may have missed the mark entirely.

Overall, I feel like the "purposes" of clauses 2, 3, and 4 still remain vague, with "encouragement" and "what STAR should do" mixing together.

[The Crusader Order of Prussia]

Thanks alot, but there are already regions for that, if you wanna have space co operation move to the region I am in, the Free Market Federation, also Id like to remind you that some nations are literal cave dwellers still while others, like the UN Galactic Authority own an entire galaxy, so I think we would first needa bridge that gap

[Ubertas]

Firstly, love this excellent proposal by fellow starborn! I do have some thoughts. And kudos on the acronym =D

Here are some of my comments:

1) I believe a crucial component to this will be the sharing of resources and science/tech. I also think that assisting nations without advanced space tech could be a meaningful directive too. So overall, 1 is great, but I think it can be expanded a little to be:

1) The Space Transport and Astronomical Research (STAR) Administration is hereby established with the following directives:

• Promoting international research and understanding of the outer space, in the interest of non-invasive international cooperation and for the benefit of member nations.
• Publishing credible research findings regarding aeronautical travel and outer space phenomena, in cases where such research benefits the international community.
• Collaborating with member nations and any further programs established by the General Assembly on a non-exhaustive list of topics including a) launches into outer space, b) terrestrial and deep space research, and c) space mineral extraction, as needed to minimize risk of a) launches that cross national boundaries and b) operations in outer space.
• Coordinate the usage of, with limited invasiveness, resources and facilities related to outer space, which may include but is not limited to: aerospace technology, launch vehicles, launch sites, propulsion mechanisms, and satellites.
• Assist, with consent of relevant parties, space access to willing nations that may lack the technological means to achieve space flight, so that all may share in the vast resources of the cosmos.

I also think that a provision needs to be put in there mentioning that international law/WA resolutions, when applicable, will be followed to the best of STAR's extent in outer space and shared terrestrial worlds.

[Alicorn Princess Twilight Sparkle]

Thanks alot, but there are already regions for that, if you wanna have space co operation move to the region I am in, the Free Market Federation, also Id like to remind you that some nations are literal cave dwellers still while others, like the UN Galactic Authority own an entire galaxy, so I think we would first needa bridge that gap

Hey there! This thread is for discussing the proposal in the opening post, not for promoting your region. If you would like to do that, it should be done in its own thread in the Gameplay forum. Thank you!

[First Territory]

Firstly, love this excellent proposal by fellow starborn! I do have some thoughts. And kudos on the acronym =D

Here are some of my comments:

1) I believe a crucial component to this will be the sharing of resources and science/tech. I also think that assisting nations without advanced space tech could be a meaningful directive too. So overall, 1 is great, but I think it can be expanded a little to be:

1) The Space Transport and Astronomical Research (STAR) Administration is hereby established with the following directives:

• Promoting international research and understanding of the outer space, in the interest of non-invasive international cooperation and for the benefit of member nations.
• Publishing credible research findings regarding aeronautical travel and outer space phenomena, in cases where such research benefits the international community.
• Collaborating with member nations and any further programs established by the General Assembly on a non-exhaustive list of topics including a) launches into outer space, b) terrestrial and deep space research, and c) space mineral extraction, as needed to minimize risk of a) launches that cross national boundaries and b) operations in outer space.
• Coordinate the usage of, with limited invasiveness, resources and facilities related to outer space, which may include but is not limited to: aerospace technology, launch vehicles, launch sites, propulsion mechanisms, and satellites.
• Assist, with consent of relevant parties, space access to willing nations that may lack the technological means to achieve space flight, so that all may share in the vast resources of the cosmos.

I also think that a provision needs to be put in there mentioning that international law/WA resolutions, when applicable, will be followed to the best of STAR's extent in outer space and shared terrestrial worlds.

I have a few questions regarding your proposed addition:

• Whose resources and facilities do you mean for STAR to coordinate the usage of? (If it coordinates member nations' resources and facility, does that not undermine the member nations' right to their own resources?)
• When and why should STAR do this? (Maybe specify that it should help coordinate during International Project or some such?)
• How does it do so? (Does it always coordinate all international space projects?)

(Sorry if this comes out as a bit nitpicky)

[First Territory]

I apologise for making consecutive replies.

As a newbie (at least when it comes to interacting on the forum, the WA, and proposal writing), I try to learn about the subject of proposal writing from the guides by experienced writer as much as possible;
and while looking through the thread, I have found a nice resource I would like to share with you: a style guide by The Ice States.

Also, seeing that the proposal tries to establish a body under the WA, I believe you should reference the The Environmental Coordination Office (ECO) recently established by clause 2 of World Environmental Treaty to use as a guideline for STAR. (This should prove quite useful since the author of the resolution apparently based it off of real-world treaties.)

[Centennium]

Your suggestions have been seen! Thank you all for that.

We'll make some edits when we can, then we'll go from there ^-^

[Alainian Otters]

the draft's been updated! thanks, everybody, for your feedback - it was super helpful in refining this! ^^

if anybody has any other comments, we'd love to hear it :D

[Llan]

I think I will vote for this proposal.

[Centennium]

Hey everyone! It's been a while. We'd still love to hear any thoughts and suggestions you might have, we want to make this proposal the best it can possibly be.

[Moukden and Kirin]

First time offering feedback on a GA proposal, so take it with a pinch of salt

• The definitions cover "spacecraft", but the term doing the work in Clauses 2 and 3.1 is "civilian spacecraft", and that one isn't defined anywhere in the text. So as it stands the scope of the inspection framework in Clause 2 is left open
• The spacecraft definition doesn't require the object to be capable of spaceflight, so it also reads onto observatories, launch pads and radio telescopes
• Clause 1.2 has STAR publish research findings and 1.3 has it promote technology sharing, both of which are proactive duties, while 4.1 has STAR act at the behest of member nations. Those sit awkwardly together
• The carve-out for guidelines that aren't "reasonably applicable" leaves applicability to each nation's own judgement. Clause 2 is framed as encouragement to begin with, so once a nation decides a guideline doesn't apply there isn't much left for the section to do in either direction
• Clause 3 conditions on member nations "operating on shared terrestrial worlds" while the risk it addresses is collision between spacecraft in outer space. Those are two different places, so it catches surface operators who aren't where the collisions happen and misses orbital operators with no surface presence, which points towards conditioning on shared orbital use instead
• "The expanse of vacuum in between celestial objects" reads most naturally as interplanetary space. A single planet's orbital shell isn't obviously "in between" anything, and that shell is where 3.1's collision scenario takes place, so it's not clear the definition reaches it

[Alainian Otters]

we made some edits based on kirin's feedback ^^

[Centennium]

Yo yo! We're moving this to last call, to which we will then submit within the next few days. Thank you all for the feedback!

[Grenartia]

The Grenartian delegation, as a nation with multiple inhabited planets in multiple star systems, and our nation is not the only WA member state fitting that description, believes this proposal is good, but lacks a useful definition of "shared terrestrial orbit", and, indeed, believes "terrestrial" should be stricken from the proposal entirely.

[Hesitant Dispatch 440]

The hovering machine rose above its sea tin the drafting chamber to speak: "Greetings. The creation of this draft has been noted by... Well, by me. And, uh, I have decided that I, as Ambassador, should analyse it. I have produced a colour-coded annotated copy for the authors. Orange indicates concerns to be addressed, yellow indicates milder doubts, green text is addition suggestions and, finally, red are passages that I strongly object to. Any text between brackets and in blue are comments made by myself."

Space Transport and Astronomical Research

Proposed By: Alainian OttersㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤDebate: Right Here!

The General Assembly,

Recognizing the need for international cooperation in outer space, as the shared fabric of the universe that binds all known life, a medium which is becoming increasingly reachable for developing life,

Motivated by a desire to cooperate together [Redundant. "Cooperate on..." would suffice.] on preserving access to, and promoting research of, this medium, through international partnership,

Pursuing collaboration on space research and exploration under the framework of national sovereignty, respecting the internal affairs of member nations while promoting cooperation that will prove beneficial to the World Assembly at large,

Hereby defines as follows: [I would expect this part of the proposal to be organised as a list: 1. Outer Space; 2. Spacecraft etc.]

Outer Space: The all-encompassing [This reads as oddly poetic language for a legal instrument. Does the term "all-encompassing" add any level of meaningful detail to the definition? If not, it can be discarded] expanse of vacuum in between celestial objects, including but not limited to stars, planetary bodies, and nebulae.

Spacecraft: A flight-capable vehicle created by a civilization with a primary focus on accomplishing goals within outer space [A giant missile truck capable of launching ground-to-space nukes would meet this definition. An absurd example, but what I wish to point out is that no part of this definition ties the concept of spacecraft to that of... traveling through space. It seems like a rather indirect definition that could be narrower.].

Civilian Spacecraft: A spacecraft that is owned or operated for non-military use.

Hereby enacts as follows:

1. The Space Transport and Astronomical Research (STAR) Administration is hereby established with the following directives:
   
   1. Promoting international research and understanding of outer space, in the interest of uninvasive international cooperation and for the benefit of member nations.
   2. Publishing credible research findings regarding aeronautical travel and outer space phenomena, in cases where such research benefits the international community.
   3. Promoting technology sharing, with consent of any involved parties, to promote [Repetitive. Replace with a synonym.] safe, sustainable space travel in developing member nations.
   4. Collaborating with member nations and any further programs established by the General Assembly, as needed to minimize risk of i) launches that cross national boundaries and ii) operations in outer space, on a non-exhaustive list of topics including i) launches into outer space, ii) terrestrial and deep space research, and iii) space mineral extraction. [If I may be frank with the authors, this part of the proposal is unseemly. Consider restructuring this mandate.]
2. Member nations are encouraged to follow any guidelines established by the STAR Administration on the topic of inspecting any and all civilian spacecraft, for the purposes of verifying operational, mechanical, and structural soundness, for the purposes of reducing casualties.
   
   1. The STAR Administration is not required to create an exhaustive set of guidelines [So STAR may create a non-exhaustive set of guidelines? Meaning they can apply procedures and protocols not outlined in their guidelines? This seems like a rather broad discretionary power that a Committee should not have. If a Committee has some regulatory or investigative power, that Committee should at least be tasked with stating the full extent of their procedures and criteria.] , nor are member nations encouraged to follow guidelines that aren’t reasonably applicable [Reasonably applicable in what way? I recommend citing one or two criteria that might make a guideline not applicable.].
   2. Member nations are encouraged to ensure that their spacecraft can last for the whole mission that they will be used for.
   3. Member nations are encouraged to ensure that their spacecraft undergo extensive structural tests and extensive mechanical tests for the purposes of preventing fuel leakages, preventing chemical leakages, and preventing [Repetitive. Use the first instance of "preventing" only.] other dangerous issues that may arise.
3. Member nations, when operating in shared terrestrial orbits, are highly encouraged to coordinate with the STAR Administration to the minimum [I can deduce that the intent of this clause is to encourage member-states to, at least, collaborate with STAR to prevent unintended collision, but another possible reading is that this highly encourages member-states to minimally collaborate with STAR and nothing else. Some rephrasing might be required here.] extent needed to avoid, or reduce to the fullest, the risk of unintended collision between spacecraft.
   
   1. For the purpose of resolving emergency situations, member nations are encouraged to share communication channels and contact procedures for civilian spacecraft operating in the same terrestrial orbits.
   2. Member nations are not expected to coordinate with the STAR Administration in cases where member nations are directly coordinating with other parties in a terrestrial orbit. [What purpose does this clause serve?]
4. The STAR Administration shall respect the sovereignty of all member states regarding exploration, studying, and missions into outer space. [What purpose does this clause serve? Committees only do what their clauses tell them to do, no part of this proposal grants STAR discretionary power to violate sovereignty.]
   
   1. The STAR Administration shall have zero authority to pass discipline onto nations. [Same issue as above. Without this clause, the proposal stays exactly the same.]

Co-authors: Centennium, New Ryansville

[Bhang Bhang Duc]

As far as I can see astronomical research is only included in the draft to make a catchy acronym. There really is nothing about actual research in this draft, you know the sort I mean, involving telescopes (optical and radio), neutrino detectors, gravity wave detectors etc., etc. All of these are planetary based - this draft just talks about spacecraft.

Very poor, no support from me - an amateur astronomer in real life.

[Alainian Otters]

As far as I can see astronomical research is only included in the draft to make a catchy acronym. There really is nothing about actual research in this draft, you know the sort I mean, involving telescopes (optical and radio), neutrino detectors, gravity wave detectors etc., etc. All of these are planetary based - this draft just talks about spacecraft.

Very poor, no support from me - an amateur astronomer in real life.

hmm! you're right that astronautical might be a better word to encompass the entirety of the draft, even though that already falls under the "space transport" part of the agency name. albeit, i'd prefer more constructive feedback than claiming the draft is poor based on a word in the title not being the primary focus, which still establishes STAR, in part, for the purpose of promoting research on outer space and publishing research findings on outer space phenomena.

otherwise, we simply have different philosophies on the general assembly if you want a draft regulating detection devices ^-^

[Hesitant Dispatch 440]

As far as I can see astronomical research is only included in the draft to make a catchy acronym. There really is nothing about actual research in this draft, you know the sort I mean, involving telescopes (optical and radio), neutrino detectors, gravity wave detectors etc., etc. All of these are planetary based - this draft just talks about spacecraft.

Very poor, no support from me - an amateur astronomer in real life.

hmm! you're right that astronautical might be a better word to encompass the entirety of the draft, even though that already falls under the "space transport" part of the agency name. albeit, i'd prefer more constructive feedback than claiming the draft is poor based on a word in the title not being the primary focus, which still establishes STAR, in part, for the purpose of promoting research on outer space and publishing research findings on outer space phenomena.

otherwise, we simply have different philosophies on the general assembly if you want a draft regulating detection devices ^-^

OOC:

I don't entirely disagree with BBD, though I find the mention of specific research methods odd given their questionable-at-best international importance; it seems odd for this proposal to have research in it. Most of the mandates are about astronautical regulation and control, something that is very important by itself. I wouldn't expect a proposal about navigational protocols in international waters to also contain a mandate about marine research.

[New Ryansville]

We've updated the draft to reflect some changed we made based off Cess's feedback. We're still considering feedback for the next few days but plan to submit very soon!

[Omnicontrol]

Personally I would make the clause telling nations to ensure their spaceships' lifespans are not shorter than the mission they'll be sent to mandatory - but I imagine it being purely an encouragement is by design. Otherwise a good proposal (and finally one that works with my stats ^-^), I look forward to seeing it in the queue.

[Bhang Bhang Duc]

As far as I can see astronomical research is only included in the draft to make a catchy acronym. There really is nothing about actual research in this draft, you know the sort I mean, involving telescopes (optical and radio), neutrino detectors, gravity wave detectors etc., etc. All of these are planetary based - this draft just talks about spacecraft.

Very poor, no support from me - an amateur astronomer in real life.

hmm! you're right that astronautical might be a better word to encompass the entirety of the draft, even though that already falls under the "space transport" part of the agency name. albeit, i'd prefer more constructive feedback than claiming the draft is poor based on a word in the title not being the primary focus, which still establishes STAR, in part, for the purpose of promoting research on outer space and publishing research findings on outer space phenomena.

Poor because you didn’t know the difference between astronomical and astronautical resesearch.

otherwise, we simply have different philosophies on the general assembly if you want a draft regulating detection devices ^-^

WTF are you on about - I was merely pointing out that astronomical research is ground based and has nothing to do with your draft.