Legal Framework for Space Exploration. Benefits and Threats for the Earth

Abstract

Since the launch of the first artificial satellite – Sputnik 1 in 1957 – and humans first setting foot on the Moon in 1969, astronauts and other spaceflight participants have travelled to the International Space Station and man-made probes and rovers have landed on planets, comets and asteroids, exploring new uncharted corners of our solar system. States and private entities are developing new types of space activities such as space mining and human settlements on celestial bodies. Since the 1980s, human activity in space is moving away from the convention of highly specialized space missions by trained cosmonauts in favor of space travel for all. But this heightened cosmic activity brings to light various issues such as those related to space debris and the environment, as well as a lack of appropriate legal regulations. In this article, its authors analyze the legal framework of space law in order to determine the conditions for space exploitation and its legal consequences particularly to environmental aspects of sub-orbital, orbital and space flights are presented.