Bangalore: A mission to Moon and subsequent planetary programmes by India would help it to continue to play an active international role as new issues and challenges confront the future law making process related to outer space, former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman, K Kasturirangan said on September 21.

Delivering his address at the 11th Annual Convocation of the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, he said the proposed Moon mission, apart from its scientific and technical challenges and other benefits in terms of international cooperation, will also be significant from a legal perspective.

"As the Moon Treaty evoked limited response and not ratified by major space powers, there are several open questions on the rights of states regarding the exploitation of natural resources on moon," the Rajya Sabha member said.

A mission to Moon and subsequent planetary programmes by India, Kasturirangan said, will go a long way in consolidating India's rightful place to participate in future legal work and other international endeavours for exploration of planets.

Regarding outer space, big challenges before law are issues of regulation of debris, private sector participation in law making, particularly in bodies like International Telecommunications Union, which regulates use of orbit and spectrum resources, issues of intellectual property rights acquired in space, the question of arms race and policies on distribution of high resolution and their impact on national sovereignty and privacy of citizens, he said.

PTI