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The Rush into Space is Producing a Perilous Legal Fragmentation

Document Type

Editorial

Publication Date

2024

Publication Title

Centre for International Governance Innovation: Space

Abstract

Despite a proliferation of satellite constellations and the risk of hazardous orbital debris, there are no new laws on the books.

Welcome to Space 2.0, where “the established military industrial space sector is no longer the only game in town.” Innovative startups, academic labs, speculative investors and other private actors inhabit the new landscape alongside governmental space agencies.

But Space Law 2.0 has not yet arrived to meet the moment. And that’s a shame. Governments could be stepping up to develop international regulatory frameworks to better govern the public-private space environment, with its new projects and plans. Because governments aren’t crafting new international agreements at the moment, norms are developing in other ways.

Keywords

Space Law, International Law

Publication Citation

Melinda (M. J.) Durkee, The Rush into Space Is Producing a Perilous Legal Fragmentation, Centre for International Governance Innovation: Space (January 31, 2024), https://www.cigionline.org/articles/the-rush-into-space-is-producing-a-perilous-legal-fragmentation/

The Rush into Space Is Producing a Perilous Legal Fragmentation

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