Satellites To Space Tourism: Expanding Horizons Of Space Law
- IJLLR Journal
- Feb 7
- 1 min read
Dr. Mousumi Kalita, Assistant Professor of Law, Faculty of Law, ICFAI University, Tripura
ABSTRACT
The legal environment around space activities is changing due to the quick development of satellite technology and the rise of space tourism. Space operations, which were formerly controlled by state-centric frameworks under international space law, are now more and more influenced by commercial innovation, private actors, and citizen involvement. This article explores the relationship between space tourism and satellites, emphasizing how satellites facilitate commercial human spaceflight through navigation, communication, safety, and regulatory control. It examines current international legal frameworks, including the Registration Convention, the Liability Convention, and the Outer Space Treaty, and assesses how well they handle contemporary issues raised by private space tourism endeavours. The article delves deeper into unresolved legal concerns such as space traffic management, insurance requirements, liability for space tourists, jurisdiction, and the long-term viability of orbital ecosystems. The report makes the case for modernizing and harmonizing space law to balance innovation, safety, and the peaceful use of space by evaluating both national and international regulatory methods. In the end, the growth of satellites and space travel marks a turning point for space law, necessitating flexible legal structures that can accommodate humanity's growing presence beyond Earth.
Keywords: Space Law; Satellites; Space Tourism; Commercial Spaceflight; Outer Space Treaty; Private Space Activities; Liability in Space; Space Governance; Emerging Technologies.
