Analysing The Role Of The Governing Regulatory Bodies In Shaping The Future Of Space Tourism: Balancing Innovation, Safety And Growth

G. Sowndarya Lakshmi, BA LLB, Alliance University, Alliance School of Law, Bangalore

ABSTRACT

Space tourism is predicted to "take off" in the first quarter of the twenty-first century, although compared to conventional travel destinations, there won't be as many visitors in orbit until space travel becomes more affordable and safe. For everyone, space is the ultimate frontier. Various space tourism companies are being proven with the aim that in the near future there will be regular space travel which in due course of time would be as simple and routine as an air travel. However, as that may be the scenario in future, the trends in the space tourism industry today do not envisage such tremendous number of people rotating around the Earth. For all mankind, space remains the last uncharted region. Understood this but what sort of comical concept is it to promote tourism for this arena. Of course, the most important question is whether the existing Space Laws will be sufficient for the operations of space tourism in the years to come.

This paper also tackles the issue of authorising space tourists and overseeing their activities. Further issues relate to the registration of the aircraft or space vehicle, which is engaged in transporting the tourists and the state’s jurisdiction and control over it. Probably, the most problematic component of this new type of activity is responsibility of passengers, or more properly speaking, responsibilities of third parties, for space tourism.

This paper considers the legal and regulatory laws necessary for the safe travel of passenger and crew and vehicles in the space. In such a case the primary goal becomes to analyse to what extent the innovations of space tourism belong to the governments and or the intergovernmental organisations regulatory framework.

Keywords: space tourism, space, innovation, aviation, safety, space laws, orbit.