Commercial space launches and maritime activities: Issues and challenges

Chunyan Yu and Janet K. Tinoco

Transport Policy, 2025, vol. 173, issue C

Abstract: While extensive research has explored the economic and operational impacts on airlines and aircraft operators, there is a notable gap regarding the effects of space activities on maritime operators and the repercussions of non-compliance with maritime safety protocols for commercial space operators. This study examines the intricate challenges arising from the dynamic relationship between commercial space activities and maritime operations. The effectiveness of safety zones is questioned, given instances of non-compliance leading to scrubbed or postponed launches, incurring substantial costs for space operators. The escalating frequency of disruptions caused by commercial space activities and potential conflicts of interest between space and vessel operators underscore the need for regulatory and legal exploration. The economic repercussions of disruptions, such as launch scrubs and postponements, and the associated costs for space operators are examined, and the fairness of disrupting regular operations of maritime entities to facilitate profit-making private space companies is questioned. The potential liability of violators for scrub and postponement costs, jurisdictional challenges faced by maritime safety and security agencies such as United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the need for regulatory or legal mechanisms to enforce safety zones and oversee liability issues are critical aspects explored in this research. This paper intends to prompt dialogue on achieving a delicate balance between maritime and space domains, ensuring the continued success and safety of commercial space ventures, and to expand the complexity and nuances of space traffic management to include impacted maritime operations. Policy and regulation recommendations are proposed to enhance further discussion and identify solutions.

Keywords: Commercial space; Maritime safety; Maritime operation; Economic impacts; Space air traffic management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.103787

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