The Future Of Space Exploration And Space Law

Our country has attempted to implement all conceivable laws, rules, regulations, and recommendations to promote growth. Even as we make progress in space technology and research through several space agencies established by the Central Government, suitable space legislation in a domain that has been mostly disregarded or forgotten by legislators for a long time. In an increasingly competitive global corporate climate, each nation would want to determine its priorities, including the usage of the stratosphere and beyond. Again, international collaboration in the utilization of space, information sharing, and space technology would become a need rather than a source of contention.

To achieve this, appropriate legislation and a unified government structure recognized by all nations of the world must be implemented. As space flights funded by private organizations in many countries become a reality, we must take safeguards to ensure that a structure of governance is in place to address any potential challenges or disasters that may arise in outer space.

Space Law in India

Currently, India’s legal framework governing space exploration is noticeably lacking. While statutes such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Act of 1969 and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) Guidelines of 2011 exist, they provide little oversight over space-related operations.

India’s space industry has traditionally been closely controlled, overseen directly by notable personalities, and even handled by the Prime Minister’s office. While this centralized approach has yielded major results, such as ISRO’s amazing breakthroughs in space technology, there is an increasing demand for specialized space laws as India advances toward privatization.

The existing space legislation in India is essentially policy frameworks rather than detailed statutes. These policies include the following:

• Satellite communication policy (SATCOM): This policy, implemented in 1997, seeks to develop satellite communication, launch capabilities, and stimulate private investment. However, it was regarded as insufficient, prompting the development of norms, rules, and protocols.
• Norms, Guidelines, And Procedure (Satcom) Policy, 2000: These regulations detail the procedures for setting up satellite systems by private Indian enterprises with less than 74% foreign equity, as well as the rules for using the INSAT satellite system.
• Remote Data Sensing Policy, 2011: This regulation authorizes the transfer of high-resolution imaging services for private use, but not sensitive imagery data. It seeks to liberate the remote sensing industry for developmental purposes.
• ISRO Technology Transfer Policy: This policy, which aims to increase private participation and investment, allows ISRO to outsource the manufacturing of satellite components and other space-related technology to national and foreign enterprises, allowing ISRO to focus on research and development.

The Future of Space Exploration

The year 2024 promises to be a watershed moment in space exploration, building on notable milestones from 2023, such as NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and India’s Chandrayaan-3 missions. Here are some important forthcoming missions:

• NASA’s Europa Clipper mission intends to examine Jupiter’s moon, Europa, known for its ice surface and probable subsurface saltwater ocean. The mission aims to assess Europa’s habitability for extra-terrestrial life by investigating its icy shell, geology, and seafloor.
• Artemis II Mission and Programme Goals Artemis II, part of NASA’s Artemis program, intends to bring humans back to the Moon, opening the way for long-term lunar presence and future Mars missions.
• VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) will study the Moon’s south pole for volatiles such as water and carbon dioxide.
• Lunar Trailblazer and PRIME-1 Missions: SIMPLEx Programme: NASA’s Small, Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program offers cost-effective rideshare possibilities for these missions.
• JAXA’s Martian Moon Exploration (MMX) mission: JAXA’s MMX mission will look into the origins of Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos. The spacecraft will embark on a three-year mission that will include landing on Phobos and returning a sample to Earth, with a launch scheduled for September 2024.
• ESA’s Hera Mission, Hera, led by the European Space Agency, will explore the Didymos – Dimorphos asteroid system after the kinetic impact of NASA’s DART mission in 2022.
• Planetary Defence, Hera, which is set to launch in October 2024, will assess the impact of DART’s collision and investigate the physical features of asteroids.

To meet the obstacles and prospects in space exploration, concerted efforts are required, such as establishing international conventions, encouraging cooperation, recognizing intellectual property rights, and adopting a logical research methodology. With its increasing space capabilities, India can play a vital role in defining the future of global space governance and diplomacy.

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