Tulane Space law program Oct. 29 to offer sneak a peek at the future of space exploration

Alina Hernandez ahernandez4@tulane.edu
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Tulane’s growing space law program is hosting a lecture on the (legal) wild, wild west that is space exploration on October 29.

Titled “Space Exploration: Where Have We Been and Where are We Headed?” the lecture will be given by  Professor Sean O’Keefe, former NASA Administrator and the Howard G. and S. Louise Phanstiel Chair in Leadership at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. It will take place at 5 p.m. in Room 110 of the John Giffen Weinmann Hall.

Following the keynote, there will be a panel discussion on the future of space law with O’Keefe and Dr. Danielle Carroll, President of the Space Surgery Association and former NASA Fellow, and the founder of Orbital Biodesign, LLC., a company that helps in the development of innovative technologies intended to support human health, both on Earth and in space; and Tulane Professor Martin Davies, Director of the Tulane Maritime Law Center and an international authority in maritime law.  Professor Sally Richardson, former Interim Dean of Tulane Law who implemented the first courses in space law, will moderate the event. 

A reception will follow the panel discussion.

(L-R) Interim Law Dean Sally Richardson, alumna Darleen Jacobs (L'81), Professor Wian Erlank, Dr. Danielle Carroll and Professor Jeanne Amy (L'16) at the Space Law Launch event Sept. 14 -- with the Tulane flag and cap that went to space with ret. Col. Doug Hurley (E’88). The event formally launched the law school's Space Law Program. (Photo Credit: Alina Hernandez )
Jacobs, second from left, at the inaugural Space Law Program event in 2023.

Tulane Law launched its space law program two years ago with a generous gift of $1 million from alumna Darleen Jacobs (L’81) to leverage Tulane’s world-leading strength in maritime law and international law to address related legal issues now emerging with the private exploration and exploitation of space.

The gift created the Judge S. Sanford Levy and Judge Anna Veters Levy Endowed Fund, named for Jacobs’ late husband and his first wife, which will be used exclusively to develop the space law program at Tulane.

Since then, the gift has created multiple different space law courses, including courses on issues of jurisdiction and the international treaties governing space law and courses on private law issues such as property and torts in space, and courses concerning the environmental implications of space travel.  More than 200 students have taken part in the space law courses taught at Tulane Law.  Tulane Law has also been able to recruit leading scholars and practitioners in the space law arena to campus, including South African law professor and scholar Wian Erlank and Department of Justice attorney for the Aviation, Space, and Admiralty Section, Jeanne Amy (L’16). 

In addition to generating classroom interest, the generous gift of Jacobs has also generated much student excitement.  The Space Law Society at Tulane Law was founded by students last year and now boasts a membership in excess of 60 students.