"HAESSIG Frédéric Pierre Tamatoa" wrote in
:

Markus Baur a écrit dans le message :
...

hubble gyroscopes or computer fails and hubble is no longer under
control. company launches, docks with hubble and affects repairs ..
without asking NASA

on the sea the case would be clear (at least as far as i remember the
comments on admiralty law, towing and salvaging during the course for
my sailing license - please correct me) - a salvage company saved a
derelict wreck, floating without control or crew .. the wreck now
belongs to the salvage company .... at the very minimum (if salvage
would be successfully contested at admiralty court) lloyds open
contract would be called in, giving the company 10% of the salvaged
value ...

how is the situation in space .. ?

Unfortunately, the high seas laws don't apply in space.

According to current space treaties ( I'd have to look up my
references to say which one ), an object launched in space is forever
the responsibility of the country which launched it, or which
countains the company which ordered it launched.

You are correct. 1967 Outer Space Treaty, article 8:

Article VIII
A State Party to the Treaty on whose registry an object launched into outer
space is carried shall retain jurisdiction and control over such object,
and over any personnel thereof, while in outer space or on a celestial
body. Ownership of objects launched into outer space, including objects
landed or constructed on a celestial body, and of their component parts, is
not affected by their presence in outer space or on a celestial body or by
their return to the Earth. Such objects or component parts found beyond the
limits of the State Party to the Treaty on whose registry they are carried
shall be returned to that State Party, which shall, upon request, furnish
identifying data prior to their return.



--
JRF

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