Title: Space Law and Governance
Subject Classification:  Law and Legal Ethics, Politics and Government, Science  
BIC Classification: LA, JP, PD
BISAC Classification: LAW002000, POL011000, SCI098000
Binding: Hardback, eBook
Planned publication date: Sep 2025
ISBN (Hardback): 978-1-83711-364-4
ISBN (eBook): 978-1-83711-365-1

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Description

The rapid advancements in space exploration have transformed outer space into a domain of unprecedented commercial, scientific, and strategic significance. With the increasing involvement of private enterprises, growing concerns over space debris, and the pressing need for international cooperation, the legal framework governing outer space has never been more critical. This book provides an in-depth examination of space law and governance, tracing its historical evolution, key international treaties, national regulations, and emerging legal challenges.

In the early years (Pre-1957), legal principles governing space were primarily influenced by aviation laws, with little attention to outer space. The Cold War and the Space Race (1957–1990) accelerated the need for legal governance, leading to the establishment of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) (1959) and foundational treaties like the Outer Space Treaty (1967) and the Moon Agreement (1984). The Commercialization Era (1990–2010) saw increased private-sector participation, necessitating regulatory adaptations to accommodate companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

The New Space Age (2010–Present) has brought greater international involvement, legal debates on space resource utilization, and rising concerns over security and sustainability. Key treaties such as the Outer Space Treaty (1967), Liability Convention (1972), and Moon Agreement (1984) have shaped space law, addressing issues like sovereignty, liability, and the use of celestial bodies. However, with growing commercial exploitation and militarization, new legal challenges demand global cooperation.

This book aims to provide legal professionals, policymakers, scholars, and space industry stakeholders with an in-depth understanding of space law’s evolution, challenges, and future prospects.

Biography

Author(s):  Dr. Thakur Raunija is a Scientist in The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Poornima Singh Pawar is a lawyer, based in Agra, India, practicing in the Supreme Court of India, and Managing Director at Pawar & Associates.

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