The author, dr Joanna Kulesza, highlights clear parallels between cyberspace and outer space: both are transnational, increasingly commercialised, and exposed to geopolitical tensions and security threats. In both domains, existing legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. The article emphasises the need for a coherent, values-based approach to the governance of these strategic areas.
"As the space domain becomes increasingly congested, contested, and commercially significant, the European Union has recognised the urgent need to establish coherent regulatory mechanisms. The newly proposed EU Space Act seeks to harmonise fragmented national regimes, address emerging threats to space security and sustainability, and support technological innovation within a competitive, rules-based framework. While space law has traditionally relied on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and related multilateral agreements, the evolving challenges posed by space traffic management, orbital debris, and the increasing militarization and commercial use of space demand new legal and diplomatic tools. In this context, the European Union’s (EU) ongoing efforts to regulate outer space through a transboundary framework that transcends national jurisdictions represent a watershed moment in the evolution of space governance. "
The article was inspired in part by discussions held during the May symposium at the Surrey Space Centre – sincere thanks to the organisers for their valuable insights.
