United NationsOffice for Outer Space Affairs

Legal Advisory Project

Space Law for New Space Actors

Picture provided by NASA

Innovation and knowledge derived from space exploration and related activities support economic growth, deliver high returns on investment, generate new technologies and job creation. More countries and non-governmental entities than ever are interested in engaging in these activities. As global interest grows, awareness of and adherence to international space law becomes ever more important. In this regard,   UNOOSA is the UN entity responsible for the planning and implementation of activities aimed at building Member State capacity in space law and policy. We have been working with established and emerging space-faring nations on such activities since the Office was established by the UN General Assembly in 1958.

Updates:

• Update February 2023: Update to the List of Technical Advisory Missions and their programmes (NEW!)
• Update September 2022: France to join the project as a new donor
• Update June 2022: Update on the content of the Space Law Project webpage
• Update February 2022: APSCO to join the project as a new donor 
• Update September 2021: Kyutech to join the project as a new donor
• Update June 2021: Update on the Space Law Project (  ppt available) (NEW!)
• Update May 2021: Japan to join the project as a new donor (  press release available)
• Update November 2020: Belgium to join the project as a new donor
• Update May 2020: Chile to join the project as a new donor
  
• November 2019: Launch webpage with the support of Luxembourg (press release and video available) and SWF

Advisory Services on Offer

• Through capacity-building and advisory services, UNOOSA supports an enhanced understanding of the fundamentals of international space law, increasing the capacity of states to draft or revise national space law and policy  in line with the international normative frameworks on space
• UNOOSA supports recipients implement existing normative frameworks, such as the Outer Space Treaty, the Registration Convention, and the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines.
• Through direct consultation with the recipient, activities are tailored in consideration of specific judicial, administrative, and technical requirements.  

Target Beneficiaries

• The capacity-building and advisory services are tailored to the needs, requirements, and interests of  policy-makers and legislators of the requesting Member State. Typically such representatives come from governmental and regulatory authorities.
• It is expected that countries that are either entering the space sector for the first time or who are embarking upon new phases of space activities will benefit most from the project.
• If you are interested in UNOOSA capacity-building and advisory services in international space law, please contact us through the contact details below.

Four-Stage Method

The overarching project "Space law for new space actors: fostering responsible national space activities" will be delivered by the Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to the Member States, upon request, in 4 stages over a 12-month duration:

• Stage 1) Development and desk-based research of the requesting country;
• Stage 2) Tailor-made course development;
• Stage 3) Deliver 2-3 days on-site technical advisory mission;
• Stage 4) Follow-up and evaluation.

e-Learning Modules

The e-learning course is available to the participants for the recipient country on the legal advisory services provided through the project Space Law for New Space Actors. The participants to the on-site technical advisory mission, who are selected by the recipient government, will be asked to complete the mandatory e-learning course before the event. UNOOSA has developed 4 learning modules available in English, French, and Spanish languages.

• Module 1: Introduction to Space Law for New Space Actors
• Module 2: The Outer Space Treaty and the Fundamental Principles of Outer Space
• Module 3:  Key elements of National Space Law
• Module 4:  Guidance on Space Object Registration and Frequency Management for Small and Very Small Satellites  

Technical Advisory Missions

As part of the legal advisory services provided through the Space Law for New Space Actors project, the project conducts technical advisory missions on both the regional and national level for selected representatives of relevant organizations. These technical advisory missions are tailor-made to raise the awareness levels of the fundamental principles of international space law as well as enhance the understanding of the importance of bringing space law and policy into the national context.

Technical Advisory Missions are organized based on the 7 key elements of national space law. 
"Report of the Working Group on National Legislation Relevant to the Peaceful Exploration and Use of Outer Space on the work conducted under its multi-year workplan" of 3 April 2012 (A/AC.105/C.2/101) notes that the following elements could be considered by States when enacting regulatory frameworks for national space activities, as appropriate, taking into account the specific needs of the State concerned:

• I. Scope of application
• II. Authorization and licensing of activities of non-governmental entities
• III. Continuing supervision of activities of non-governmental entities
• IV. Registration
• V. Liability and insurance
• VI. Safety
• VII. Transfer of ownership

List of Concluded Technical Advisory Missions

List of Planned Technical Advisory Missions

Sponsors

Call for Donors

The project aims to allow UNOOSA to collaborate with Member States and to respond to requests for legal advisory services in a structured and sustainable manner. In this regard, since the launch of the project, the Office has received over 45 such requests from emerging space-faring nations. Thus, to establish this new approach and to make our work possible, UNOOSA is calling on interest parties to consider supporting such efforts through voluntary contributions.

Accessing Space Treaty Resources Online (ASTRO)

At the of the year 2022, the Office for Outer Space Affairs launched a new platform, called  Accessing Space Treaty Resources Online (ASTRO). It is a collection of international and national instruments on space activities developed by UNOOSA with the generous support of the Government of Luxembourg through the provision of financial means. The objective of the platform is to raise global awareness about and adherence to the five United Nations Space Treaties and additional non-binding instruments relevant to international space law, share best practices, and foster the development of national legislation and policy related to space activities.

Contact Us

Please address all email inquiries on the project to:   unoosa-spacelaw@un.org

Additional Resources

National Space Law Collection
Click   here to learn more about UNOOSA's work in the field of space law, including the National Space Law Collection

Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Click   here to learn more about how space is contributing to SDG 16