UNOOSA features growing pressure on space governance as global space activity accelerates

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has featured the increasing urgency of strengthening global space governance amid rapidly expanding space activities, following the first week of the 65th session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) Legal Subcommittee.

Discussions during the session underscored how long-standing United Nations treaties, principles, and guidelines on outer space are now being actively applied to emerging challenges in the 21st-century space environment, including lunar exploration, satellite expansion, and orbital sustainability.

Side events organised by member states, observers, and industry stakeholders focused on strengthening international cooperation in space governance. Key themes included future lunar missions, the importance of transparency and information-sharing among states, and the need to ensure inclusivity for developing countries within COPUOS processes and treaty frameworks.

Contributors to the discussions included the German Aerospace Center, the Canadian Space Agency, the United Kingdom Space Agency, as well as representatives from Brazil, Mexico, the United States, the Russian Federation, and organisations such as the European Space Policy Institute, COSPAR, and the Lunar Policy Platform, among others.

The Annual Space Law Symposium, convened alongside the session by the International Institute of Space Law and the European Centre for Space Law, addressed emerging legal challenges linked to the rapid growth of satellite constellations and increasing orbital debris. Issues discussed included liability for space collisions, orbital sustainability, dark skies preservation, and regulatory frameworks for debris removal.

Opening the session, UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini noted that space activities are advancing at a significantly faster pace than space diplomacy, stressing the need for member states to translate priorities into robust governance frameworks capable of keeping pace with industry growth.

The Legal Subcommittee session continues in Vienna, with further discussions expected on strengthening international cooperation in space law and governance.