Laws of the Cosmos: Navigating the Space Tourism Legal Landscape

Gyorgy Pal Papay (), Hien Huynh Thi Ngoc () and Subhankar Das ()
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Gyorgy Pal Papay: Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu–National Louis University
Hien Huynh Thi Ngoc: South Star Management Institute, Duy Tan University
Subhankar Das: The Honors Program, South Star Management Institute, Duy Tan University

A chapter in Pioneering the New Space Economy through AI and Immersive Technologies, 2025, pp 51-68 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Space tourism presents a complex legal landscape that requires careful consideration and negotiation between private companies, governments, and international organizations. This chapter assesses the changing legal environment of space tourism to propose an integrated three-tiered regulatory regime. With the rise of private companies in space exploration, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST) fails to provide a solid legal base for modern issues. This study suggests a pragmatic regulatory framework that includes safety protocols, measures of environmental protection, and international coordination mechanisms. The framework is structured around a sequence of our phases, delivered over a 4-year (48-month) time frame, which allows for building regulatory architecture in a controlled manner while keeping our regulation operational. The study pinpoints key areas that warrant immediate action, including liability challenges, property rights, and environmental sustainability, and examines market, technological, and international implementation. The results imply that effective regulation of space tourism must balance fostering innovation while ensuring compliance with a need for flexible governance that evolves alongside technology development. In conclusion, the paper argues that future space tourism legislation must balance the commercial interests of clients and companies with an ethical obligation to ensure that the industry develops equitably and sustainably.

Keywords: Space tourism; Legal framework; Environmental sustainability; International coordination; Regulatory compliance; Commercial space operations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-96-5977-7_3

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-96-5977-7_3

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