IV Legal Space Congress in Madrid: discussing critical space-related issues, including national space legislation, space sustainability’s new challenges, and space debris
🇪🇸 The IV Legal Space Congress, organized by the Asociación Española de Derecho Aeronáutico y Espacial (AEDAE), was held on October 3-4 at the Redeia Campus in Tres Cantos, Madrid, home to several key Spanish space companies. The event was inaugurated by Eliza Gonzales Ferreiro, President of AEDAE, along with local Spanish authorities from the sector. It brought together key stakeholders from the Spanish Space Agency, the space industry, professionals and academia to discuss critical issues in the space sector, with a particular focus on revising and updating Spain’s national space legislation.
An Italian delegation also participated, including Sergio Scopetta, Scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Madrid, and Sergio Marchisio, Professor of Space Law at Sapienza University of Rome and leader of the OSL team. Several panels addressed pressing topics such as the legal challenges faced by the space industry, the forthcoming EU space law, the space economy, and new challenges in space sustainability. 🇮🇹
🛰️ Sergio Marchisio, speaker on the final panel, highlighted the role of national space legislation in giving binding force to international, non-legally binding instruments related to sustainability and space debris mitigation. He emphasized the legal complexities surrounding space debris remediation, in-orbit services, and evolving practices in the registration of debris. He also discussed the proposed “Provisions Relating to the Space Economy” Draft Law, introduced by Italy’s Minister of Enterprise and Delegate for Space and Aerospace Policies, Adolfo Urso, on September 10, 2024. This legislation focuses on sustainability and space debris mitigation, especially through authorization mechanisms for private operators.
The Congress concluded with a productive discussion among participants, who posed numerous insightful questions and engaged in thoughtful exchanges.
