3.3.1 Current and Short Term Legal Framework
3.3.2 Long Term Legal and Political Framework

Science and technology planning is a key to the success of space. However, the current framework of international law requires those who participate in space activities to consider several political and legal issues.

The activities of states in outer space are governed by public international law. Part of it, space law, contains five treaties and other international agreements that have an impact on space activities and international customary law. Space law constitutes the regulatory basis for space activities. These activities can be defined as activities facilitating access, regulating operations, and controlling human conduct in outer space. An international legal order came into existence after 1957, when the first satellite, Sputnik I, was launched.

The impact of this framework on our strategy requires studying how these five treaties apply to our project. Although space treaties were constructed for space activities in general, some provisions and parts of treaties highlight specific problems in the case of exploration of outer space (refer to 3.3.1).

Our aim is to determine if space law as it exists today will still be justified in the coming years, when new generations will settle on the Moon, Mars or other planets (refer to 3.3.2). We will deal with space activities that will not be initiated by decision-makers on Earth. This question will lead us to examine the study of governance of future settlements.

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