Ole Miss professor appointed to International Academy of Astronautics committee

An Ole Miss law professor has been named to the International Academy of Astronautics’ permanent committee on space solar power.

Michelle Hanlon was appointed after the IAA formed the Permanent Committee on Space Solar Power to advise on ways to harnessing and delivering sunlight-powered energy from outer space to markets on Earth.

“What the committee is doing is trying to show the world that this isn’t science fiction,” Hanlon said. “It can happen, and it’s something that governments should be putting a ton of work behind because not only is it clean, but it’s cheaper when you put the structures in place.”

She is the executive director of the Center for Air and Space Law at Ole Miss’ School of Law and will co-chair the legal and regulatory consideration subcommittee.

She is among three dozen people from across the globe appointed to the committee.

“If we are going to support this concept, we’re going to need a ton of solar panels up in GEO (geosynchronous Earth orbit) and that’s going to take up a lot of space,” Hanlon said. “This is an effort that needs international collaboration. When we look at all the sustainable development goals, this kind of effort is probably going to be the only way we can meet them.”

In her role as co-chair, Hanlon will consider liabilities of such as satellites taking up large amounts of space in orbit and the possibility of large space debris.

Deorbiting space debris can fall to Earth, potentially causing damage to property or life.

The highest priority for the committee, however, is persuading national leaders that space-based solar power should be a priority, Hanlon said.