Spanish science minister calls for better regulation of private space activities

The increased activity of private companies in space and the ensuing potential conflict of interests with public agencies has revealed the urgent need for an appropriate legal framework, Pedro Duque, a former astronaut who now heads the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, said on Thursday.

"I think we need to stick to the working scheme of cooperation with the private sector in this area. The private sector is often developing the technology and it becomes part of the market and then the public sector has to engage in regulations so that the exploitation is reasonable", the minister said while speaking at an online panel hosted by Brussels-based think tank Friends of Europe.

Acknowledging that the private sector has traditionally been the manufacturer of the technology sent to space, Duque pointed out that more high-tech companies are beginning to emerge as the technology becomes more affordable.

"As a result now we have to deal with overcrowding in outer space", the official said. As a step in the right direction, Duque suggested that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and 1972 Space Liability Treaty be revised to align with the latest developments.

The activities of private companies in space have intensified over the past several years. Telecom firms and private research institutions often contract spots on state-owned carrier rockets for their satellites to be launched into the orbit.

In May, US private manufacturer SpaceX launched a test manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on its Crew Dragon spacecraft. Another four-member crew safely arrived at the ISS earlier in November. Nine years before that, the United States relied on Russian carrier rockets Soyuz to deliver its astronauts to the space station.

Source: RIA Novosti

Related Links
Outer Space Treaty
The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Ten satellites to be built in Glasgow in next three years
London, UK (SPX) Nov 22, 2020
AAC Clyde manufacture a range of small satellites, ranging from 1kg to 50kg in weight, and offer space-as-a-service, which is an end-to-end mission service covering everything from mission design, launch and satellite operations to data delivery for companies including; Orbcomm, NSLComm, Eutelsat, Orbital Micro Systems, NASA and ESA. Each of the small satellites will be built as part of a new three-year project - titled xSPANCION - by the satellite manufacturer to create an innovative satellite co ... read more