2024 Finals

The 2024 Finals of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition were successfully held on Thursday, 17 October 2024, 15:00 h in Milan. The Finals took place at the Palazzo Emilio Turati, the site of the Milan Chamber of Commerce.

The Competition was organised by the IISL Moot Court Committee, comprised of Steven Freeland (Chair), Leslie I. Tennen (Co-Chair), Martha Mejia-Kaiser (Honorary Member), Melissa K. Force (Co-Chair), Alexander Soucek (Co-Chair), Isavella Vasilogeorgi (Co-Chair), and Masahiko Satoh (Co-Chair).

The Competition was judged by three sitting Judges of the International Court of Justice: H.E. Judge Peter Tomka (Slovakia), H.E. Judge Iwasawa Yuji (Japan), and H.E. Judge Leonardo Nemer Caldeira Brant (Brazil).

Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition Finals 2024 at Palazzo Emilio Turati, site of the Milan Chamber of Commerce
The participarting teams

The Regional Rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition 2024 were organised by the Regional Organisers: Nomfuneko Majaja (Regional Organiser Africa), Yu Takeuchi (Regional Organiser Asia-Pacific), V. Gopalakrishnan (Associate Regional Organiser Asia-Pacific), Nathan Johnson (Regional Organiser North America), Hristina Talkova (Regional Organiser Europe), and Jairo Becerra (Regional Organiser Latin America) and Laura Gamarra (Assistant Regional Organiser for Latin America).

The winners of the five regional rounds traveling to Milan and participating in the Semi Finals leading up to the Finals on 17 October 2024 were:

Africa: Midlands State University (Zimbabwe)
Asia-Pacific: Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Europe: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece)
Latin America: National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico)
North America: McGill University (Canada)

The two winning teams concluding the Semi Finals successfully and standing for the Finals were:

Asia-Pacific: Singapore Management University (Singapore);
Europe: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece).

Winners of the 2024 Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition Finals 2024

The Moot Court Finals were won by the Asia-Pacific team from Singapore Management University (Singapore).

Singapore Management University (Singapore):
Ms. Wu Zhi Yi Genieve
Ms. Ho Li Hui Elizabeth
Ms. Toh Hsuan Hui Raelee
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Chen Siyuan
Faculty Advisor Assistant: Ms. Teo Yi Ting Bernadette

(From left to right:) Steven Freeland, Kai-Uwe Schrogl, and the winning team 2024 of Singapore Management University
Moot Brochure

This year's Moot Brochure can be downloaded below.

IISL Moot Court Programme_2024Download

The event took place with the kind support of Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

This year's case 2024

Republic of Angani (Applicant) vs. Federal State of Bolvanger (Respondent)
Case Concerning The Protection Of Dark And Quiet Skies And The Freedom Of Scientific Investigation

This year's Moot Case was authored by Hristina Talkova, Jack Nelson and Rosanna Hoffmann.

Synopsis

BOLVANGER, a highly developed spacefaring nation, has decided to issue a licence to a private company, KRONOS Limited, to launch the TandaNet satellite constellation, intended to provide global broadband services, especially to remote and conflict zones. Shortly after the first generation TandaNet commenced launch in 2026, astronomers and scientists raised concerns regarding the brightness emitted by TandaNet satellites. In addition, a first-generation TandaNet satellite, HJR-3, became uncontrollable.

Concurrently, the Gallivespian Space Organisation (“GSO”) was established with 31 Member States, including ANGANI, and developed, as its first project, a space-based telescope KirR, aiming to revolutionize astronomical investigations. Despite delays and internal pressures, KirR launched at the end of 2030 from ANGANI, but collided with HJR-3, rendering KirR inoperative and creating widespread debris that reduced the lifespan of the remaining TandaNet satellites.

Later that same year, BOLVANGER announced the construction of the TAO telescope for advanced celestial imaging, with an emphasis on detecting near-Earth asteroids. The international scientific community lauded the endeavour. GSO announced its second project - the NYX3 satellite constellation. The first batch of NYX3 satellites were launched from ANGANI. When the TAO telescope began operations later that year, it encountered significant distortions in its imaging due to the interference of satellite constellations, particularly from the NYX3 satellites. The non- reflective coating on these satellites inadvertently emitted light on wavelengths the TAO was calibrated to detect, thereby compromising its function.

In 2032, unable to find a resolution to by diplomatic consultations, ANGANI and BOLVANGER have agreed to present the case to the International Court of Justice for adjudication.

Regional Rounds

Africa

MLMC African Regional Rounds 

15th Africa Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition 22-23 May 2025 (Thursday – Friday) Timeline for the 2024 Rounds of the Manfred…

International Institute of Space Law | IISL

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific | Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition

Contact Email the IISL Asia Pacific Representative: lachsmoot-asiapacific@iisl.space Chief Director: Prof. (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar, (Director, GNLU), (India)Gene…

International Institute of Space Law | IISL

Europe

ESA - Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition

The ECSL organises, together with the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), the European Rounds of the annual Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competi…

http://www.esa.int

Latin America

Latin America | Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition

Contact Email the IISL Latin America Representative: lachsmoot-latinamerica@iisl.space Regional Organiser: Dr. Jairo Becerra - email Assistant Regional Organis…

International Institute of Space Law | IISL

North America

https://www.spacecourtfoundation.org/lachsmoot

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