Publications

Journal Articles and Book Chapters

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Thomas Cheney, ‘Non-Use of Space: Reconsidering Article I of the Outer Space Treaty and the Useability of Space Resources’, in Catherine Blanchard and Solène Guggisberg (eds.), Non-use Measures for Global Goods and Commons in International Law (Brill 2025)

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Thomas Cheney (2024) ‘The Extra-Planetary Mine: Space Mining as Continuity’ 30 Environment and History 353.

 

Christopher Newman and Thomas Cheney (2023) ‘Barriers and Gateways to Cleaning Up Earth Orbit: The Legal, Economic, and Political Dimensions of Debris Remediation’ 48 Air and Space Law 113.

 

Alessandra Marino and Thomas Cheney (2023) ‘Centring Environmentalism in Space Governance: Interrogating Dominance and Authority Through a Critical Legal Geography of Outer Space’ 63 Space Policy 101521.

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​Thomas Cheney, ‘Universe Exploration and Colonisation’ in Failat, Y.A. and Ferreira-Snyman, A. (eds.), Outer Space Law: Legal Policy and Practice (2nd edn., Globe 2022).

 

Thomas Cheney, Chris Newman, Karen Olsson-Francis, Scott Steele, Victoria Pearson, and Simon Lee (2020) ‘Planetary Protection in the New Space Era: Science and Governance.’ Front. Astron. Space Sci. 7:589817.

 

Thomas Cheney (2019) 'There's No Rush: Developing a Legal Framework for Space Resource Activities' 43 J. Space L. 106.

 

Thomas Cheney (2018) 'Developing and Adapting Space Law to Govern Long Term and Permanent Human Settlement of Outer Space, the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies' 61 Proc. Int'l Inst. Space L. 959.

 

Thomas Cheney and Christopher Newman, ‘Managing the Resource Revolution: Space Law and Risk in the New Space Age’ in Newman, C.J. & Wilman, R.J. (eds.), Frontiers of Space Risk: Natural Cosmic Hazards & Societal Challenges (Taylor & Francis 2018).

 

Other

 

Thomas Cheney ‘Planetary Protection’ in Sa’id Mosteshar, Christoph Beischl and Arne Sonnichsen (eds) Elgar Encyclopaedia of Space Policy and Governance (Edward Elgar 2025)

 

Thomas Cheney, ‘Common Heritage of Mankind’ in Mahulena Hofman and P.J. Blount Elgar Concise Encyclopaedia of Space Law (Edward Elgar 2025)

 

Thomas Cheney, ‘Review of Byers, Michael; Boley, Aaron. Who Owns Outer Space? International Law, Astrophysics, and the Sustainable Development of Space. H-Diplo, H-Net Reviews. February 2024. Available at: https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=59638

 

Thomas Cheney, ‘Time for an ASAT Test Ban Treaty’ in Arms Control Idol: Ideas for the Future of Strategic Cooperation and Community (Kings College London Centre for Science and Security Studies 2021) Available at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csss/assets/arms-control-idol-ideas-for-the-future-of-strategic-cooperation-and- community.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1yqe7wiXeC798Otv6tg3LOoviKznSt6HlGxIFaMx2C6fT2fsdkG43Es_E

 

Thomas Cheney, A Primer on Space Mining Law: Understanding the Law(s) on Space Resources Five Years After Title IV (Centre for a Spacefaring Civilization 2020).

 

Discussion Pieces

 

Thomas Cheney, ‘Elon Musk has gone all in for Trump – here’s what’s at stake for the World’s Richest Man in the US Election’ The Conversation 5 November 2024 Available at: https://theconversation.com/elon-musk-has-gone-all-in-for-trump-heres-whats-at-stake-for-the-worlds-richest-man-in-the-us-election-242794

 

Thomas Cheney, ‘The Rising Flood of Space Junk is a Risk to Us on Earth – and Governments are on the Hook’ The Conversation 17 April 2024. Available at: https://theconversation.com/the-rising-flood-of-space-junk-is-a-risk-to-us-on-earth-and-governments-are-on-the-hook-227583

 

Thomas Cheney, ‘Mars: How Scientists Prevent Earth’s Microbes from Contaminating Other Planets’ The Conversation 4 February 2021. Available at: https://theconversation.com/mars-how-scientists-prevent-earths-microbes-from-contaminating-other-planets-154652?fbclid=IwAR00pizZsqY0NbIEndU1rsY_v_Qr1sGPAKBuRbVxU2Vi6yHYFt5-B0ah71A

 

Thomas Cheney, ‘Not the Wild West: Space Law and Space Mining’ Astropreneurs 9 August 2018. http://astropreneurs.space/2018/08/09/not-the-wild-west-space-law-and-space-mining/

 

Lauren Napier, Thomas Cheney, Kathryn Robison, Karina Perez, Anne-Sophie Martin 'Enabling Private Sector Success - A Space Generation Perspective' (2018) 14 Room 52.

 

Thomas Cheney ‘The Outer Space Treaty at 50: Space Commerce and the Space Law Regime’ (2017) 6 Astrosociological Insights 28.

 

Thomas Cheney ‘Spexit: The Impact for UK Space’ (2017) 16 Geoconnexion 54.