Mega-Constellations: Legal Aspects

Abstract

As a reflection of the fast-paced world we currently live in, a new era in satellite technology begins to emerge. This sector, of vital importance for our day-to-day lives, is in a period of significant change, characterized by the use of large satellite constellations. These mega-constellations aim to provide, among other things, worldwide internet coverage. Since 2015, satellite internet providers such as Space X and OneWeb have been working on the idea of mega-constellations and intend to launch circa 4.000 and 882 satellites respectively, thus forcing satellite manufacturers to lower the costs drastically. However, many legal issues may arise since the vast amounts of satellites will significantly increase the risk of collision with other satellites or spacecraft.