Catalog

Technical programme

IAC-26 — 77th International Astronautical Congress

E7. 69th IISL COLLOQUIUM ON THE LAW OF OUTER SPACE

The Colloquium will focus on topical questions of international, regional and national space law. Following a Keynote Lecture and the traditional Young Scholars Session, the program will address: Information Sharing in Outer Space: Theory and Practice; Legal and Regulatory Opportunities and Challenges in the Evolving Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Economy; Planetary Defence: Legal Issues in the Deflection of Hazardous Asteroids and Comets; Space Stations: Legal Framework, and Recent Developments in Space Law – National and Regional Space Legislation. Within the framework of the colloquium, interactive presentations on topics chosen by their authors will also be delivered.

Coordinator

Lesley Jane Smith
Leuphana University of Lüneburg/Weber-Steinhaus & Smith — Germany

Catherine Doldirina
International Institute of Space Law (IISL) — Italy

E7.1. Young Scholars Session

This session is open for abstracts and papers from space lawyers under 35 years old. It welcomes contributions on any topic related to space law. It also features a regular, annual keynote presentation by a High level expert and diplomat in the field of international space law.

Co-Chair

Merve ERDEM BURGER
Swiss Space Law Forum — Switzerland

Nomfuneko Irene Majaja
Kenya Space Agency — Kenya

Rapporteur

Shrawani Shagun
National Law University of Delhi — India

Thomas Graham
Swinburne University of Technology — Australia

E7.2. Information Sharing in Outer Space: Theory and Practice

International cooperation in outer space relies upon efficient and effective information sharing and exchange mechanisms. The increasing complexity and scale of space activities, involving multiple space actors, represent opportunities while raise challenges to the peaceful and sustainable uses of outer space. Transparency is required to support due regard for the corresponding interests of all stakeholders involved. The Outer Space Treaty promotes international cooperation and information sharing in space activities as part of fundamental legal principles. Through Article XI, general standards of behavior are provided on that regard, supporting proper collaborative initiatives. Consideration of such tenet in legal and practice, especially in the framework of the United Nations, reiterates the relevance of public data sharing initiatives towards effective end results. Examples are commercial SSA/STM services providers relying on the UN international register(s) of space objects, COSPAR International Designators, and on open-data sources to collect information relating to physical identification of satellites.

Co-Chair

Joan Chesoni
Kenya Space Agency (KSA) — Kenya

George (Georgios) D. Kyriakopoulos
National and Kapodistrian University Of Athens — Greece

Rapporteur

Beyza Eravci
University of Luxembourg — Türkiye

Giuliana Rotola
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna — Italy

E7.3. Legal and Regulatory Opportunities and Challenges in the Evolving Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Economy

The expanding Low Earth Orbit (LEO) economy, driven by satellite constellations, presents both opportunities and challenges for the public and private sector. Real and present dangers to the continuing safety and sustainability of outer space are posed by debris and active satellites; furthermore, an orbital collision would result in third party liability event for some satellite constellations. Key topics therefore include the sustainability of LEO amid increased congestion, challenges in space traffic management, and legal frameworks for orbital debris mitigation and remediation. Regulatory solutions proposed in the IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, UN COPUOS Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines 2019 are recommended for States to adopt at national levels. Increasingly, commercial SSA/STM services are provided.

Co-Chair

OLAVO DE OLIVEIRA BITTENCOURT NETO
Catholic University of Santos — Brazil

Upasana Dasgupta
OP Jindal Global University — India

Rapporteur

Gurur Gaye Günal
Günal Law Firm — Türkiye

Gregory Radisic
For All Moonkind Inc. — Canada

E7.4. Planetary Defence: Legal Issues in the Deflection of Hazardous Asteroids and Comets

Planetary defence covers human activities to address potential impacts of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) - asteroids or comets that pass relatively close to the Earth’s orbit in astronomical terms – on the Earth. In recent years, space agencies have increased their efforts in the detection and appraisal of hazardous NEOs and to develop strategies to prevent and mitigate potential impacts. In view of different potential mitigation measures, legal questions need to be answered. Some mitigation measures may raise concerns with respect to their legality under international law, most notably nuclear explosive devices. In addition, States may be liable for damage caused on Earth or in outer space in the context of a planetary defence mission. The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) are involved in awareness raising and in promoting international discourse and global cooperation on the topic of NEOs, including by the establishment of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG). In 2020, an Ad hoc Working Group on Legal Issues of SMPAG published a report on some of the most pressing legal issues of planetary defence.

Co-Chair

Alissa J. Haddaji
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — United States

Irmgard Marboe
University of Vienna — Austria

Rapporteur

Anıl Akyol
TOBBUYUM — Türkiye

Jingyi Liu
Beijing Institute of Technology, Institute of Space Law — China

E7.5. Space Stations: Legal Framework

With decommissioning the successful International Space Station (ISS) approaching, a question on its followers or substitutes opens. At present, the Chinese space station is orbiting the Earth. For the future, a commercial space station is under preparation, and the Gateway orbiting the Moon is planned. These structures are envisaged for a permanent or semi-permanent stay of human beings in outer space, serving not only as a shelter but as a basis for scientific investigations in weightlessness or the stay of microgravity. Their developments signalise a transition from LEO activities to lunar and Mars exploration. The advent of commercial space stations, fostering a new era of in-orbit research, tourism, and in space manufacturing, raises questions inter alia about property rights, liability, and jurisdiction. The session will seek to explore how current governance frameworks must evolve to support this transition, addressing overlaps and gaps in international and national space laws. Invited are i.e. contributions dealing with the legal aspects of the decommissioning of the ISS, in comparison with deorbiting earlier space structures, with the legal framework of the Chinese space station, as well as the planned commercial space station. Additionally, the international legal framework of the Gateway station can be debated.

Co-Chair

Nazlı Can
Istanbul Technical University — Türkiye

Mahulena Hofmann
University of Luxembourg — Luxembourg

Rapporteur

Safwene El Khaira
ECSL — France

Simona Spassova
University of Luxembourg — Luxembourg

E7.6-E3.5. 40th IAA/IISL Scientific Legal Roundtable: The Growing Roster of Space Countries

Invited papers only. Since 1957, the legal and scientific framework for outer space has evolved through three distinct stages. The first stage, dominated by government programs from the Soviet Union and the United States, expanded in the 1970s to include agencies from Europe, Japan, India, and China. The second stage began in the 1980s with the entry of commercial entities, supported by major space powers.We are now in the third stage, characterized by the emergence of new governmental and commercial space programs from over 120 countries, such as India and the UAE's Mars missions and the 2025 establishment of the African Space Agency, collaborating closely with commercial partners, much like their predecessors. This increasing diversity and congestion in space have forced governance to adapt. Early space activities were largely governmental and well-suited to the formal treaties of the 1960s and 70s. However, the current mix of nations, missions, and technologies has challenged these "hard" treaty laws. As a result, there's a shift toward more flexible, non-binding guidelines, like the UNCOPUOS Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines and the Artemis Accords. This evolution in the space community also raises new scientific and ethical questions about exploration methods and the search for extraterrestrial life. The 40th Scientific/Legal Roundtable will address these challenges.

Co-Chair

Rainer Sandau
International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) — Germany

Larry Martinez
International Institute of Space Law (IISL) — United States

Rapporteur

Nicola Rohner-Willsch
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) — Germany

Ivan Fino
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies — Italy

E7.7. Recent Developments in Space Law – National and Regional Space Legislation

The increasing involvement of private actors in outer space has raised the need for States to enact national space legislation, which contributes to a growing body of national space law worldwide. Recent developments and updates involve interesting innovations. At the regional level, States are also active in developing regulatory frameworks to facilitate and improve cooperation between States and their nationals in the respective regions. In the European Union, recent developments in space law concern the project of an EU Space Act and the regulatory framework of the EU Space Programme, as well as other forms of cooperation with the European Space Agency. In other regions, cooperation between States with respect to space activities is also growing. Examples include the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, the newly established African Space Agency, the Arab States in the Gulf Cooperation Council, the member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States with their dedicated convention on outer space cooperation, or the Latin American countries within their recently created Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency.

Co-Chair

Güneş Ünüvar
Moon Village Association (MVA) — Luxembourg

Christina Giannopapa
European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) — Czech Republic

Rapporteur: Theodora Liameti
University of Luxembourg — Greece

E7.IP. Interactive Presentations - IISL COLLOQUIUM ON THE LAW OF OUTER SPACE

The IP session is not restricted to any specific topic related to space law and invites authors to contribute presentations on any interesting, relevant and current space law issues.

Co-Chair: Gina Petrovici
German Space Agency — Germany