Space Law
Why Africa Should Expand its Mega-Satellite Constellation Capacity
Africa would be enriched by the ability to use this new technology to enable users through diverse services, to protect assets within the value chain, or simply to monitor areas of national security such as the environment and borders. →
Understanding the South African Space Policy
This document aims to provide guidance to all actors in the South African private and public sectors in the space field. These orientations go through the support and promotion of scientific research, capacity building, innovation and industrial development. →
The Danish Space Law of May 11, 2016
The scope of application of the Danish OSA of May 11 only applies to space activities carried out in the Danish State and to space activities carried out outside the national territory on Danish devices or installations or by Danish operators. →
The Rwanda Space Agency
Rwanda’s long-term space program aims to increase the country’s adoption of space technologies and stimulate research and development in space science. Let us have a look at Rwanda and space law in Africa! →
The International Crime of Ecocide: Regulating Environmental Degradation in Outer Space
In the outer space context, developing concerns surrounding space debris and irreparable damage to outer space environment have been raised within international space law jurisprudence over the past several decades. →
Legal Aspects of Detecting Parking Spaces in a Parcel using Satellite Images
With the advent of digital image processing techniques, the world has reaped many benefits. This technology was exploited for a particular use case of detecting the number of empty and occupied parking spaces from satellite images of parking lots. →
Advancing Water Resource Management through Space Applications
The integration of a human rights-based approach (HRBA) across the use of space applications in advancing integrated water resource management (IWRM) provides a means for governments to fulfill their ongoing obligation to respect, protect and fulfill human rights. →
A human rights-based approach to Space Traffic Management
The international implementation of space traffic management measures, aligned with human rights values and principles, must be prioritized to improve the safety and sustainability of human activities in outer space. →
Policy Considerations for Satellite Communications
The demand for space resources can only increase in a set up where space-based technologies and services will be integral to explore, govern, teach, learn, conduct business and defend national territories. →
Understanding the UAE Space Vision through its Program and Law
Created in 2014, the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) is the space agency of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a country composed of seven emirates. Let us have a look. →
The Chang’e 5 Mission: Aims And Consequences
Named after the Chinese Moon goddess, Chang’e is a lunar sample return space probe. Chang’e 5 is part of the Chinese lunar exploration program, and was set up by the Chinese space agency (CNSA). Let us have a look. →
Understanding Transpace Carriers Inc. v. United States (1990)
Transpace Carriers, Inc. v. United States of 1990 is one of the most important space law cases regarding pre-contractual breach in contract law. Let us have a look. →
Understanding Hughes Communications Galaxy Inc. v. United States (2001)
Hughes Communications Galaxy Inc. v. United States case of 2001 is one of the most important decisions of contract law within space activities law. Let us have a look. →
The French Act Relating to Space Activities
In France, a distinction is made between “space uses”, which are services provided from space such as telecommunications, location or satellite observation, and “space operations” which concern the methods and devices used to go into space, stay there and then come back to Earth. The 2008 French act only deals with the legal framework of space operations. →
The Use of Nuclear Powered Engines in Outer Space
On August 20, 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a memorandum about research on a potential launch of spacecraft containing nuclear powered engines. Let us have a look. →
The Canadian Space Program
Canada has become a pioneer in satellite communications and Earth observation in response to the needs of a population scattered over thousands of kilometers, as well as the need to monitor the longest coastline in the world and second-largest territory. →
Policy Solutions for Cybersecurity in Space
A dedicated space and cybersecurity policy, as opposed to a general cybersecurity bill, will enhance a state’s ability to be more resilient to the particular risks posed to space services and capabilities, including space weather. It also enhances national security interests through space. →
The Failure of the Launch of the French Taranis Satellite
On the night of November 16-17, 2020, the French Taranis satellite took off from the Guyana Space Center in Kourou. Unfortunately, this mission ended in failure, since the satellite was lost only eight minutes after its launch. →
Understanding the ENMOD Convention
The ENMOD Convention, also known as the Convention on the prohibition of military or any hostile use of environmental modification techniques, is an international treaty whose objective is to prohibit such techniques for military or hostile purposes. Let us have a look! →
The Space Legal Issues with Mega-Constellations
Nowadays, we hear more and more about constellations and mega-constellations projects consisting of hundreds or thousands of small spacecraft. A satellite constellation is a group of artificial satellites working together. Is it legal? What are the space legal issues? →