Instructional goals
This course will provide students with an understanding and overview of the history and evolution of space law, explaining the main international legal instruments and institutions as well as developments in Europe and national space legislation. The legal aspects of satellite applications, such as telecommunications, Earth observation and satellite navigation will be explained. The course will also zoom in on ‘New Space’, such as commercial space mining, large satellite constellations and private human spaceflight. Furthermore, it will highlight the challenges of protecting the space environment from congestion and debris, as well as the military use of outer space.
Prerequisites
None
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
Describe the legal instruments and actors governing space activities at the international, European and national level;
Summarize the most important space law principles;
Explain current space law issues and efforts to address them;
Apply the relevant space laws and policies; and
Solve practical questions related to space law and policy
Course Contents
The course will be divided in 12 parts, 1 per week, as detailed below.
Reference Books
The course book is T. Masson-Zwaan and M. Hofmann, ‘Introduction to Space Law’ (5th ed., Kluwer 2025).
For each lesson, a PowerPoint presentation will be shared.
Further suggested readings may be provided each week.
Teaching Methods
Frontal classes will be given by the course leader and some guest lecturers which, together with the assigned reading materials, will provide students with the required theoretical knowledge.
Students are responsible for coming to classes prepared, which in turn provides for in depth discussion in classroom sessions.
Class discussions about concrete situations will help students solve realistic scenarios with a practical approach.
Assessment Method
Mandatory attendance and active participation during class and group work: 10%
Intermediate test consisting of 5 multiple choice questions and 1 open question about the topics addressed in class 1-5: 30%
Final exam, consisting of 5 open questions focusing on topics addressed in class 7-12, with application of knowledge of class 1-5: 60%
Thesis assignment criteria
Serious interest and motivation to study the topics of the course. Individual interview.
Week 1
The History of space law and the Outer Space Treaty
Space law as a branch of international law
Sources of space law
Personal scope
Territorial scope
Textbook: chapter 1, and chapter §2.01 and §2.02
Week 2
The Rescue Agreement, Liability Convention, Registration Agreement and Moon Agreement
Textbook: chapter §2.02, §2.03, §2.04 and , §2.05
Week 3
Other Sources of Space Law
UN Resolutions and Other Documents
National Space Legislation
Textbook: chapter 3
Week 4
Europe in space
The European Space Agency
The European Union
Textbook: chapter 4
Week 5
Peaceful use of outer space
Peaceful Purposes
Weaponization
The Law of Armed Conflict
Export control
Cybersecurity
Space Situational Awareness
Textbook: chapter 5
Week 6
Review of class 1-5
Intermediate test
Week 7
Human Space Flight
Orbital Human Space Flight, including the International Space Station (ISS) and the post-ISS era
Suborbital Human Space Flight, including the issue of definition and delimitation of airspace and outer space
Textbook: chapter 6
Week 8
Space resource utilisation
The international legal framework
National legislation
Developments in UNCOPUOS and other governance initiatives
Textbook: chapter 7
Week 9
Space debris and long-term sustainability of space activities, and planetary protection
Some statistics
Hard law
Soft law
National law
Industry initiatives
Textbook: chapters 8 and 9
Week 10
Satellite communications and large constellations
ITU framework, rules and procedures
Small satellites and large constellations
Harmful interference and remedies
Textbook: chapters 10 and 11
Week 11
Satellite navigation and Earth observation (remote sensing)
GNSS, GPS, Galileo, and other systems
Military remote sensing
Civilian remote sensing
Commercial remote sensing
Textbook: chapters 12 and 13
Week 12
Focus session on authorization for private space operators
Review of class 7-12 in preparation of the final exam