Reimagining Space Governance for Global Commons

Reimagining Space Governance: Preserving the Global Commons

Outer space governance is increasingly central to national security, global communication, scientific research, and economic development. Recognised as a global commons, it is governed by the Outer Space Treaty (OST) of 1967, which prohibits national appropriation, the placement of nuclear weapons, and militarisation of celestial bodies. However, the evolving nature of space activity demands a robust re-evaluation of its governance, particularly in light of growing concerns about the expanding space debris population and the need for comprehensive international space laws, including the Moon Agreement and other key treaties.

The rise of private enterprises like SpaceX and Blue Origin, and emerging space nations such as India and China, has fundamentally altered the space landscape. Reusable launch vehicles, satellite mega-constellations in geosynchronous Earth orbit, space tourism, and resource extraction efforts pose fresh regulatory challenges, including space object registration under the Registration Convention and debris management. These developments have outpaced existing international space treaties, raising issues around sustainability, equitable access, and security in the context of global space governance.

Militarisation of space further complicates governance. While the OST bans nuclear weapons, it remains silent on conventional arms. Anti-satellite (ASAT) tests by China (2007), India (2019), and others have increased risks of conflict and space debris, threatening operational satellites and sustainable access. The Kessler Syndrome — also known as the Kessler effect — a scenario of cascading collisions, could render low-Earth orbit unusable, highlighting the urgency for space debris mitigation strategies, including passivation measures and active debris removal initiatives.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) play coordinating roles in outer space governance, yet lack enforcement mechanisms. As space becomes congested and contested, there is a growing need for institutional reform. A reformed UNOOSA or a new multilateral body could manage orbital slots, regulate commercial space activities, oversee dispute resolution, and address critical issues such as space debris coordination and the implementation of collision avoidance procedures.

For civil servants, especially those in foreign policy, science, and defense domains, understanding global space governance is critical. India’s growing space ambitions (e.g., Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan, IN-SPACe) and participation in global initiatives like the Artemis Accords necessitate proactive engagement in shaping international space law and space treaty implementation, including the Liability Convention and the Rescue Agreement.

Policy Recommendations:

• Update the OST to address private actors, space property rights, resource utilisation, and space debris management, including post-mission disposal and end-of-life procedures for launch vehicle stages.
• Establish a Global Space Licensing Authority to regulate both public and private missions, incorporating space situational awareness and space traffic management, including robust collision avoidance procedures.
• Negotiate a Space Security Treaty banning weaponisation and outlining conflict-prevention mechanisms, with a focus on preventing intentional break-ups and accidental collisions that contribute to the space debris population.
• Promote Space Equity to ensure developing nations benefit from space technologies and services, while also addressing the space debris environment through international cooperation and active debris removal efforts.
• Implement Comprehensive Space Debris Mitigation strategies, including spacecraft design measures, orbital debris management techniques, and innovative active debris removal technologies to ensure long-term space sustainability.

Conclusion: As India asserts itself as a major space power, civil servants must balance national interests with global responsibility. Crafting an inclusive, forward-looking space governance framework is essential to preserve outer space as a peaceful, sustainable, and accessible global commons for all humanity. This framework must address the pressing issues of space debris remediation, including active debris removal, space sustainability, and the regulation of commercial space activities to ensure the long-term viability of human activities in space, from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous Earth orbit and beyond.