New Space, New Rules? An overview of historical and current developments in global space governance
The first report in our Space Legislation Series;
The exploration and utilization of outer space have entered a transformative phase characterized by two significant trends: the accelerated growth of the private sector's engagement and the multi-polarization of the space sector. As commercial entities venture beyond Earth's boundaries and traditional power centres shift, the global space governance landscape is undergoing profound changes that raise multifaceted challenges and opportunities.
This report aims to give an overview of the current landscape of outer space activities and the challenges faced in global space governance. It underscores the dual interests of private sector engagement and multi-polar collaboration and its implications on the overarching governance of outer space activities.
Importantly, this report serves as a foundational introduction to a forthcoming series of articles that will focus on the evolving landscape of national space legislation. It provides the necessary context to understand the intricate interplay between historical trajectories and modern developments.