Regarding legislation, there is currently no specific type for space tourists, so the same legislation applies to them that all astronauts must respect and comply with during their stay in space.
National space legislation with explicit reference to passengers, or "space flight participants," has recently been enacted in the U.S. The approach could serve as an incentive for further legislation at the national and international level. The U.S. legislation has some implications on reciprocal waivers of claims, excluding liability between the parties to the waiver. Some waivers are required by the legislation, whereas others may be possible, but are not compulsory.
For instance, key requirements of applicable laws in the U.S. include the following:
The licensee is required to make a reciprocal waiver of claims with "its contractors, subcontractors and customers . Since a space flight participant is not a "customer" the provision does not apply to passengers.
However, the operator is not prevented from making a waiver of liability a condition of an agreement with the space flight participant
Moreover, the licensee has to make a reciprocal waiver of claims with the U.S. Government under which each party agrees to be responsible for property damage or loss it sustains, or for personal injury to, death of, property damage or loss sustained by, interalia, space flight participants, if the damage results from an activity under the license. Such waiver of claims only applies to any amount exceeding the insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility required under subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 70112,62 that is, to an amount exceeding U.S. $100 million.
The space flight participant must hold harmless and indemnify the U.S. Government and its agencies, servants, agents, subsidiaries, employees and assignees from and against liability, loss or damage arising out of claims brought by anyone for property damage or bodily injury, including death, sustained by, inter alia, a space flight participant, resulting from licensed or permitted activities.
Private flights into outer space are attracting more and more public attention. While there is no charter flight yet, there have been occasional orbital flights with "space tourists"
Private flights into outer space are attracting more and more public attention.
There are comprehensive regulations for passenger transport in both international and domestic law.
The United States was the first country to include a specific reference to "space flight participants" in its national space law. Even if these US regulatory activities
international space law has not yet reached a level where the legal status of the commander, crew and passengers are well defined. Some aspects of specific space law, in particular the legal documents related to the International Space Station, do not indicate a trend towards clarifying the definition of astronaut and the status of crew and passengers. Explicit reference is made to the various types of people involved in space travel. For example, in early 2002
The 2002 Agreement further provides general guidelines for selection. assignment and training of ISS crew members and defines certain criteria regarding the certification of crew flight readiness. Aside from international space law, national laws may specify how jurisdiction and control will be exercised over space objects on the national registry.