FAQ

The space industry supports critical sectors such as telecommunications, defense, navigation, and environmental monitoring. Space technologies enable global connectivity, enhance our understanding of climate change, support emergency response, and stimulate economic growth. Additionally, space exploration drives scientific advancement and inspires innovation across numerous other fields.

Space policy sets the framework for space exploration, regulation, and usage. It addresses international cooperation, security, environmental stewardship, and commercial interests, ensuring that space activities are conducted safely, sustainably, and in alignment with national and international laws.

Space exploration refers to scientific endeavours aimed at expanding our knowledge of outer space, often conducted by government agencies (like NASA and ESA). The space industry, however, encompasses the economic sector involved in manufacturing, launching, and operating spacecraft, satellites, and related infrastructure, which includes both government and commercial activities.

The United Nations Outer Space Treaty (1967) is the foundational document for international space law, establishing basic principles for space exploration and prohibiting the use of space for military purposes. The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) monitors treaty compliance, while national governments are responsible for enforcing regulations on private entities operating in space.

Space commercialization involves private companies conducting space-related activities, such as satellite deployment, space tourism, or resource extraction. It’s essential because it fosters competition, reduces costs, and accelerates technological development, allowing a broader range of actors, including smaller countries and companies, to participate in space.

Space debris includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or explosions in orbit. These objects pose risks to active satellites and spacecraft by potentially causing destructive collisions. As debris increases, there’s a growing need for policies and technologies to manage and mitigate it to ensure safe and sustainable space operations.

Major space agencies include NASA (United States), ESA (Europe), Roscosmos (Russia), CNSA (China), and ISRO (India). These agencies lead national space exploration, satellite launches, research, and international collaboration, often establishing the standards and objectives for space missions worldwide.

The EU funds and oversees key space programs like Copernicus (Earth observation), Galileo (satellite navigation), and the European Space Agency’s activities. It also invests in research and development through Horizon Europe, supports space start-ups, and promotes policies to foster a competitive and sustainable space ecosystem across member states.

EU space policy focuses on maintaining European independence in space technology, ensuring access to critical services (like secure communications and navigation), promoting a sustainable space industry, and enhancing collaboration among member states. Additionally, it aims to foster innovation in the private sector and secure Europe’s role as a leading space actor globally.

Space policy is evolving to accommodate commercial spaceflight by updating regulations to ensure safety, defining liability frameworks, and facilitating partnerships between public and private sectors. Many countries are creating new licensing procedures and adapting legal frameworks to balance commercial interests with public safety and national security.

Space mining involves extracting resources like water or minerals from celestial bodies (e.g., asteroids or the Moon) for use in space or on Earth. The legal challenges stem from ambiguous international laws, as the Outer Space Treaty states that no country can claim ownership of celestial bodies, but it doesn’t clarify the legality of resource extraction by private entities.

The Artemis Accords are a set of international agreements initiated by NASA to establish norms and guidelines for lunar exploration, especially around resource utilization and peaceful collaboration. They promote responsible exploration and cooperation, but some countries remain cautious, seeing them as a potential U.S.-centric approach to space governance.

Satellites play a crucial role in monitoring Earth’s environment, tracking climate change, deforestation, natural disasters, and pollution. Programs like Copernicus provide valuable data for scientists and policymakers to make informed decisions on environmental protection and climate change mitigation.

Mega-constellations are large groups of satellites, often launched by companies like SpaceX, to provide global internet coverage. While they increase connectivity, they also raise concerns about space traffic, light pollution for astronomers, and potential contributions to space debris if satellites fail or collide.

Space tourism is rapidly developing, with companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic offering suborbital and orbital flights. While currently costly and accessible to few, prices may decrease as technology advances. However, issues like safety standards, environmental impact, and regulatory frameworks are still being addressed by policymakers.