International Space Law Conference

International Space Law Conference

“Space Industrialisation” refers to utilising the special environmental properties of outer space for the social and economic benefit of the people on Earth, by way of new technology. Innovators on earth, are restricted to engineering according to the laws of gravity, nature and physics. Space provides a manufacturing environment free from such a restriction. Here is where the up-and-coming concept of “Space Manufacturing” gains relevance. It opens opportunities and possibilities for development of new markets. A striking feature of in-space manufacturing and assembly is that it makes possible, the launch of fully assembled components. Additionally, once launched, the satellites are assembled on-orbit, making it possible for their designs to be based on efficiency and function instead of launch restrictions. When it comes to manufacturing in space, sky is no longer the limit.

Space activities emerged as State responsibilities however, in the last decade. The world has witnessed a shift from State-oriented scientific space activities to private sector-oriented commercial space activities.

As the 5 treaties highlight common rights and benefit-sharing regimes, there is an absence of international law on the commercialization of space activities, causing nations to introduce their own domestic laws to regulate the same. Over 22 countries have made domestic laws on this issue and many other countries are attempting to do the same. Recent domestic legislations of various States are not in consonance with the international space treaties’ obligations, and to advance the commercialization of space activities, these States have developed their national laws which are inconsistent with the 5 United Nations space treaties. The International Law Association has prepared a Model Law on National Space Legislation to bring uniformity in enacting national space laws by the countries.

Sub-Themes of the Conference

◦Critical issues in licensing private space activities in different States

◦Property Rights and National Space Laws

◦Commercialisation of the International Space Station.

◦Space Traffic Management in the Era of Commercialization

◦Commercial Space Tourism: Future Policy and Legal Challenges

◦Protecting Space Assets: A Legal Analysis of “Keep-Out Zones”

◦Space Communications Advances: Imperatives for Legal Developments

◦Space Resources: International Competition and Cooperation

◦The Emerging Trends of Space Manufacturing