Who leads the way in the new era of space? The new actors of international space law

The interdisciplinary conference and the special issue will examine the making and evolution of international space law (ISL) from the perspective of its actors. It will focus on the founding and constitutive actors of international space law and policymaking: States, diplomats, policymakers, intergovernmental organisations; as well as private entities such as companies, NGOs such as ISO, scientists, individuals, and other entities who prompted the creation and drive the development of the current global legal and political system governing space activities. This conference aims at fostering a dialogue to analyse how and why ISL was created, what the forces and actors driving its current structure and networks are, and what the challenges are for the future.

The conference is spread across one and half days, comprising four panels. On the first day, the conference will focus on the interaction between states, international and regional organizations as the creators of ISL during the first panel. The conference will then turn its attention to ISL as a construct of states, international and regional organizations in its second panel. On the second day, the third panel will focus on the growing role and influence of non-state entities in the norm-setting, whereas the fourth panel will discuss the position of a specific group of important non-state actors of space activities – the investors.

The conference is planned as a one and half-day conference with two panels on the first day and two panels on the second day, with a keynote speech and concluding remarks. It will take place on 15-16 May 2024.

• Register

15 May 2024

Day I: States and regional organisations as norm-setters in space law

• 12.45 – 13.15

  Welcome

• 13.15 – 13.30

  Opening remarks

  • Prof. Mahulena Hofmann (Holder of the SES Chair in Satellite Communication and Media Law, University of Luxembourg)
  • Prof. Pierre-Henri Conac (Acting Director Luxembourg Centre for European Law, University of Luxembourg)

• 13.30 – 14.00

  Keynote “From public to private space”

  Prof. Eric Tschirhart (UNIVERSEH, University of Luxembourg, Special Advisor to the Rector)

• 14.00 – 15.30

  International space law as a construct of states and international organisations
  Chair: Prof. Tanja Masson-Zwaan (University of Leiden)

  The strengths and weaknesses of international space law as a system of norms
  Prof. Timiebi U. Aganaba (Arizona State University)

  Application of international law to satellite operations
  Chiara Vittoria Turtoro (SES)

  States and the mitigation of space debris
  Prof. Andrea Harrington (Institute of Air and Space Law (IASL), Colorado School of Mines)

  Space traffic management
  Prof. Fabio Tronchetti (Northumbria Law School)

  States and the mitigation of space debrisInternational framework of space resources
  Prof. Steven Freeland (Western Sydney University and Bond University)

• 15.30 – 16.00

  Coffee break

• 16.00 – 17.15

  States and international organisations as the creators of international space law
  Chair: Marco Ferrazzani (European Space Agency (ESA))

  Input of developing countries
  Prof. Olavo de O. Bittencourt Neto (Catholic University of Santos)

  US influence on the development of the traditional ISL
  Dr PJ Blount (University of Cardiff)

  Harmonising European space policies
  Kätlin Joala (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Estonia)

  The role of diplomats in international space law and policymaking
  Gina Petrovici (German Aerospace Center (DLR))