Six people on board the International Space Station hopped into emergency escape pods early Saturday morning in case of a possible collision with a chunk of a wrecked Russian satellite, according to SATNEWS.com.

To NASA's relief, the space junk missed the station. But it came within nine miles of it, a relatively small distance in space. This incident reflects a growing concern: space junk.

A new University of Nebraska-Lincoln degree option will focus on laws governing this space debris, among other space laws.

UNL's space, cyber, and telecommunications law program will offer a Master of Laws degree online to attorneys next fall. Using Adobe Connect software, students will be able to participate in class and ask questions online.

Faculty have carefully reviewed and accessed the software, according to Jack Beard, an assistant professor at the College of Law and the newest member of the space, cyber, and telecommunications law team.

"(The) new technologies seemed to be easier to use and more user friendly to everyone involved," Beard said.

Matt Schaefer, a law professor and the director of the Master of Laws program, calls the new online class an "exciting educational vehicle."

"We are going to be able to train a whole other set of people in these areas of law that otherwise wouldn't be able to access the program," Schaefer said.

The online course will be offered to students who already have a law degree and are currently getting legal experience by working in various law firms. Having the course online allows students who may not be able to take a class in Lincoln access the same course material that students taking on-campus classes receive.

"It is exciting to be able to offer (the Master of Laws program) in this new way," Schaefer said.

Schaefer explained that the online program probably will only have a few students enrolled next fall, but he hopes enrollment increases over the years.

"We feel confident that we will have that student or two in the online program (next fall)," Schaefer said.

Beard is confident that students will not have a lesser experience with the program because it is online instead of in person.

"The school is committed to making the online experience as complete and rich and fulfilling and productive as it possibly can be," Beard said.

Beard is excited not just for the online version of the program, but for the space, cyber and telecommunications law program in general.

"I think it is a really great thing for some of the people in this field to participate in a program like this ... to join with others and participate in a way that brings their own unique experience and expertise into the program," Beard said.

Applications for both on-campus and online classes for the fall 2012 semester for the space, cyber, and telecommunications degree (LL.M) are currently being accepted.