This recent WSJ article looks at new companies who are hoping to take people to space. However, how will these American companies compete with Russia and China with regards to any IP issues? Although the article does not discuss IP issues i find it interesting to read the piece and examine how companies may expand to space while still complying with international IP laws.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-giant-lunar-leap-for-private-enterprise-1460070797
Nora,
After taking a class in undergrad dealing with international patents I have always found the conflict of international IP compliance fascinating. However, I have never considered how space travel inventions could intertwine with international patent law. Your article sparked an interest in this subject so I read a couple others on the same issue and thought you might find the one attached below interesting . Specifically section 3 outlines some of the International conventions relating to intellectual property and space.
http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/patent-law/en/developments/pdf/ip_space.pdf