There is a lack of regulation in the outer space industry when it comes to commercial use of space and private companies’ exploitation of space resources. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the United Nations created a series of treaties governing international use of outer space. Over the subsequent years, many countries have passed their own laws that establish regulatory frameworks for space use. This project aims to identify the extent to which those laws and treaties address commercial exploration and exploitation of space resources (including enterprises such as moon mining, satellite launches, and Earth observation devices). Specifically, this project conducts a text-as-data tone analysis on 59 of these documents, looking for language surrounding commercial interests and permissions. This text analysis yielded two main results. First, almost all countries with space laws had regulations on registration and quality-control of space launches and manufacturing. However, the intention and effect of many of these laws is to protect non-commercial interests: national security, human safety, and promote scientific advancement. Second, the analysis revealed that only two documents govern or institute regulations for commercial use of space. However, both of these legal frameworks are worded with pro-business sentiments and tone. As more and more companies and corporate actors venture into space, this regulatory vacuum poses serious risk. Without clear regulatory frameworks concerning the exploration and exploitation of space, problems about use of space resources will only grow.
by Fiona Ward Shaw '23