The Experience

From the smallest student CubeSat to large-scale projects like the International Space Station, all space activities are governed by space law. International space law originated under the auspices of the United Nations, starting right after the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 and leading to the Outer Space Treaty, the ‘Magna Charta’ of space law, as entered into force in October 1967. This Treaty is considered the cornerstone of space law and impacts the daily work of space scientists and engineers, touching upon the authorisation of space activities, liability, insurance, and sustainability. Exploring space law is essential for future space professionals, offering insights into the legal landscape shaping their careers and space endeavours.

Furthermore, as humanity looks toward future missions to the Moon and Mars, the evolving space legal landscape will additionally require the definition of aspects not yet fully realised. These uncharted legal territories will shape the future of space exploration, making space law an indispensable field for those venturing into the cosmos.

During the Introduction to Space Law Training Course, students will be taught by world-class experts in space law. They will discover that:

a space mission is by its very nature an interdisciplinary endeavour involving science and technology but also policy, questions of administration and funding and, quite importantly, law.
an international legal framework governs space activities from the beginning of a mission to its very end.
national space laws play an important role in the development of space missions and, more broadly, in the development of the space sector in a country.

With these matters in mind, the students will come to appreciate that law is an integral part of the practical realisation of a space mission from the “cradle to the grave”. They can expect to be introduced to the following topics:

Foundations of Space Law: Core principles of international law, UN space treaties, and the role of the European Space Agency and regional initiatives.
International Cooperation & Governance: The legal frameworks of the International Space Station, UN bodies (COPUOS, OOSA), International Consensus, technical standardisation bodies, and the geopolitics of space.
National & Comparative Perspectives: The journey of national space law, with a practical case study, and technical assistance to lawmaking.
Legal Lifecycle of Space Missions: From licensing and mission authorisation to launch, end-of-life, re-entry, and export control.
Emerging Challenges: Space debris mitigation, mega-constellations, commercialisation, and the evolving space sector.
Practical Insights: Mission planning at ESA, technical standardisation, and the future of space policy and international relations.

As part of the course, the students will also be guided to participate in a negotiation exercise and to this end, will be expected to undertake independent research.

About the training

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