In the last two weeks of November, the International Italo-Latin American Organization (IILA) Italian Space Agency (ASI) successfully delivered the advanced online training course “Space Policies and Outer Space Governance in a Changing Globalization” , organized within the framework of the strategic IILA–ASI partnership “Space Education and Capacity-Building in Latin America and the Caribbean: Space Governance, Advanced Applications of Open Satellite Data, Space Economy, and Entrepreneurship.”
The course brought together leading experts in the field of space policy and law , including Sergio Marchisio , Coordinator of the Observatory on Space Law (OSL) at Sapienza University of Rome , offering participants a high-level and forward-looking learning experience.
Through a comprehensive and dynamic exploration of space activities —from the transition from Old Space to New Space—the course highlighted the rapid evolution of the space sector, the growing role of institutional and private actors, both civilian and military, and the expanding impact of space activities on the global economy and societies. Adopting a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective , the program examined contemporary models of space governance, engaging with national, regional, and international stakeholders, as well as hybrid organizations and private enterprises, through the analysis of selected case studies.
The course represented an important opportunity for capacity-building and knowledge exchange , reinforcing international cooperation and contributing to the development of a shared and forward-looking vision for the governance of outer space .
The initiative was specifically designed for government officials, policy and legal practitioners, organizational leaders, and young professionals who are already engaged, or have the potential to become engaged, in space activities and programs at both national and international levels, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean .
The program was structured into eight in-depth teaching modules:
Governance of Space Activities: historical evolution, current challenges, and emerging solutions.Comparative Analysis of International and National Governance Models for Space Activities. Comparative Analysis of Regional and Hybrid Governance Models. Space Law and Space Policy. Space Law and Space Diplomacy. Governance Models in the New Space Era: Driving Forces and Key Trends. Case Studies .New Governance Models: Future Perspectives.
Professor Sergio Marchisio was the lecturer for Module 4, “Space Law and Space Policy,” delivered on 24 November. His contribution focused in particular on three key topics:
The evolution of international space law , from the UN space treaties to the Artemis Accords.
New space applications and the expanding role of private operators in outer space, and the resulting adaptation of space law.Key issues related to the sustainability and security of space activities , including space debris, as well as the exploration and use of space resources.
Through its targeted audience, structured curriculum, and high-level academic contributions, the initiative further strengthened capacity-building efforts and fostered informed, forward-looking dialogue on the governance of outer space in a rapidly evolving global context.
The course provided an ideal forum for engaging participants in a comprehensive reflection on the rules governing activities in outer space across multiple legal frameworks , encompassing both international and national systems and involving public as well as private law. Over time, space law has increasingly incorporated elements of private and commercial law, mirroring the growing economic significance of space activities. This evolution extends beyond traditional sectors—such as satellites and telecommunications—to include emerging fields such as suborbital flights, small-satellite constellations, the extraction of natural resources from celestial bodies, and the rise of AI-enabled space systems.
The legal foundations of space activities rest on the United Nations space treaties adopted between 1967 and 1979. This naturally raises the question of whether these treaties, and the broader framework of space law, remain fit to govern the rapid and transformative developments in the space sector. A balanced assessment highlights that the inherent flexibility of the existing legal regime continues to allow for the effective regulation of emerging space applications . While further evolution of international and national space law is both possible and, in some cases, desirable, the UN space treaties operate as open-ended instruments. They are reinforced by a rich body of subsequent practice—primarily in the form of non-binding norms—as well as by the dynamic contributions of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and various regional organizations.
By revisiting the core principles and concepts of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, their enduring relevance becomes clear—not only as the normative backbone of space activities , but also as a stabilizing framework for the maintenance of peace in outer space . These principles demonstrate both flexibility and a significant restraining function. Notably, the Treaty has enjoyed a comparatively high level of compliance when measured against many other multilateral agreements. Moreover, technological innovations are often less disruptive than they initially appear, as illustrated by the integration of artificial intelligence into space systems.
Two key conclusions emerge from this analysis. First, current developments point to a gradual adaptation of national regulatory frameworks governing space activities , rather than a radical overhaul of existing international treaties. This underscores the central role of sound interpretation and effective implementation of the UN space treaties in ensuring their continued relevance and responsible application as space technologies evolve. Second, despite the growing reliance on private-law mechanisms, space activities remain largely governed by mandatory rules of public law at both the international and national levels . Ultimately, the conduct of space activities continues to be anchored in the principle of free access to and use of outer space , which underpins the fundamental interests of all nations.
