Center for Air and Space Law

08/18/2026

🚀 New Executive Intensive: Commercial Space — Law in the New Space Economy

Join the The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Center for Air and Space Law January 11–15 for a 10-hour virtual Executive Intensive exploring the legal and regulatory issues shaping today’s rapidly evolving commercial space sector.

Over five days, participants will explore space law, U.S. licensing and regulation, liability, emerging commercial activities and the legal challenges of increasingly ambitious operations in Earth orbit and on the Moon.

- January 11–15
- Virtual | 2 hours/day
- Tuition: $800
- No previous space law experience required

Registration opening soon! Stay tuned for details. 🚀 🛰️ 🌕 hashtag hashtag

08/05/2026

Space junk is not the final frontier. It is a legal and operational problem we can no longer afford to ignore.

Our Executive Director, Michelle Slawecki Hanlon, joined Del Walters and Scripps News to discuss the rocket body that struck the Moon today, the thousands of defunct objects still orbiting Earth and the legal framework that was never designed to require anyone to clean up after themselves.

Space may be vast. The orbital regions on which we depend are not. Avoiding debris is no longer enough. We must begin thinking seriously about how to remove it.

And yes, she managed to establish her Star Trek credentials before the interview ended.

https://vimeo.com/1215936950?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

What happens when space junk reaches the Moon, and who is legally responsible for the thousands of abandoned objects still circling Earth?

07/26/2026

This is what progress looks like.

Starship Flight 13 lifted off with all 33 Super Heavy engines firing, successfully separated, deployed 20 test satellites, restarted an engine in space, survived reentry and completed a controlled splashdown. The booster came down harder than planned, but the upper stage remained intact and floating after its return. That is an extraordinary amount of progress packed into 65 minutes.

Each test brings SpaceX closer to a fully reusable launch system and NASA closer to returning humans to the Moon. It also brings into view an entirely new scale of space activity: rapid launch campaigns, orbital refueling, repeated rendezvous and landings on another world.

The technology is moving quickly. Law and policy must be ambitious enough to move with it, protecting public safety and the space environment without smothering the experimentation that makes breakthroughs like this possible.

Congratulations to the entire Spacex South Texas Launch Site team. Flight 13 was a very good day for Starship, and the future of human space exploration.

More than ever, ! 😉

https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/07/25/super-heavy-starship-rocket-chalks-up-mostly-successful-test-flight/

07/23/2026

"Space law isn’t a standalone subject. It’s less about learning entirely new legal principles than applying familiar ones in a new environment," writes The National Jurist, before giving a nod to The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss's LLM program: https://nationaljurist.com/why-space-law-is-one-of-the-fastest-growing-opportunities-for-future-attorneys/ The University of Mississippi School of Law

Today, governments are planning long-term lunar missions, companies are launching thousands of satellites, commercial space stations are under development, and billions of dollars are flowing into the growing space economy. For law students, that's where things get interesting. Space Law Isn’t sci...

07/15/2026

During Session 47 of the Congressional Study Group, The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss space law professor Michelle Slawecki Hanlon and McGill University professor Andrea Harrington discussed how the "due regard" can help shape future space governance, protect historic lunar sites and guide international collaboration as lunar exploration expands. Article by The The Brookings Institution here:

On Dec. 17, 2025, the study group convened to discuss the evolving international law of outer space operations and the “due regard” principle.

07/06/2026

Executive Director Michelle Slawecki Hanlon of The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss tells Patrick Neville with Golden Dome 101: "Space is not lawless. A lot of people think it's the Wild Wild West. But there are rules in space. Are they enforceable?" Listen to the full podcast here: https://art19.com/shows/golden-dome-101/episodes/dbcbb97d-8089-45f0-a96e-0be20d7fdbdc

In this episode, Michelle Hanlon, a space law expert, discusses the legal and ethical challenges of space exploration, including sovereignty, international law, and protecting heritage sites on the moon. Kim Iskyan adds marketing insights on how to communicate the importance of space security to the...

06/15/2026

Giant data centers in space? Prof. Michelle Slawecki Hanlon at The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss says go for it. Still, she warns, “when you’re talking about things this big, you might get countries objecting. You’re essentially excluding [others] from using that space.” Read story by Jonathan O'Callaghan for BBC Science Focus Magazine here: https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/silicon-valley-data-centres-in-space

Space data centres could be a new frontier for humanity, but can the promise live up to the hype?

06/11/2026

As commercial space stations become a reality, lunar exploration expands and governments and private industry continue investing in activities beyond Earth, the demand for professionals who understand the legal and policy frameworks guiding these endeavors has never been greater.

The Center for Air and Space Law at The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss is proud to offer multiple pathways for students and professionals interested in this dynamic field:
🚀 LL.M. in Air and Space Law (for attorneys)
🚀 Master of Science in Air and Space Law (no J.D. required)
🚀 Air and Space Law Concentration for Ole Miss J.D. students

Our students represent diverse backgrounds—including law, engineering, aviation, government, military service, business and public policy—but they share a common interest in shaping the future of aerospace and aviation.

Interested in learning more?

Join us for our virtual information session on June 19 to meet our faculty, explore our programs and learn about career opportunities in one of the fastest-growing areas of law and policy.

To register, please email [email protected].

06/08/2026

Interested in learning more about our new Master of Science in Air and Space Law?

Join us on June 19 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern for a Zoom information session and discover how this 100% online, asynchronous program can help you build fluency in one of the world's most dynamic industries.

Offered by The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss, home to the globally recognized Center for Air and Space Law, this program is designed for professionals working across aviation, aerospace, defense, government and public policy. Building on decades of leadership in the field, we prepare students to navigate the legal, regulatory and policy frameworks shaping the future of air and space activities.

To RSVP and receive the Zoom link, email [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you there!