Ernst Fasan

Who is Ernst Fasan?

Ernst Fasan is an Austrian lawyer and a recognized authority in space law, including Metalaw.

Fasan has published numerous papers on problems of space law, including Metalaw and the scientific Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. In 1970, Fasan published what remains the seminal book on Metalaw, Relations with Alien Intelligences: The Scientific Basis of Metalaw.

Fasan was a practicing attorney when in 1958 he helped to establish the Permanent Committee on Space Law of the International Astronautical Federation. Two years later his friend, colleague and fellow space law pioneer Andrew G. Haley invited him to join the committee's successor, the International Institute of Space Law. Fasan was elected to the IISL board of directors in 1962 and also subsequently served as an officer of the organization. In 1963, the IISL awarded Fasan the Andrew G. Haley Gold Medal.

In June 2008, as an honorary director, Fasan was among those representing the IISL when it was granted Permanent Observer status before the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.