Legal Aspects of Dark and Quiet Skies

Overview

The 2023 Symposium was held in hybrid format on 28 March, 15:00 – 17:00 Vienna Time (CEST) in Board Room D, Vienna International Centre.

A panel of prestigious speakers discussed the following subject: “Legal Aspects of Dark and Quiet Skies” on the margins of the 62nd session of the Legal Subcommittee of the UN COPUOS, among which Rafael Moro Aguilar, Chair of the IISL Working Group IISL Working Group on Light Pollution of the Night Sky from a Space Law Perspective.

Please find an abstract and the Symposium programme below.

This IISL/ECSL Annual Symposium on Space Law is co-organised every year by IISL and ECSL and takes place during the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) in Vienna, Austria. Both IISL and ECSL are permanent observers to the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee.

This Symposium brings together academic experts and leading practitioners in the field of space law, policy and regulation to discuss pressing issues and to propose solutions to the international community.

Abstract of the Symposium Programme

Space activities currently serve as essential tools for the economic, social and political development of every nation. The proliferation of space activities and the diversification of space actors have opened new prospects while raising challenges to the long-term sustainability of outer space. A fast-changing space sector and a burgeoning global space economy have supported various satellite applications and services, as outer space and orbital slots are becoming more congested.

The Earth’s orbital space environment is progressively acknowledged by the international community as a finite resource, which shall be explored and used responsibly by all space actors. Cumulative satellite population, especially in low-earth orbit, may disrupt visible-light observations, while their radio emissions are capable of contaminating measurements of sensitive radio telescopes.

The pristine night sky is a natural wonder of fundamental cultural significance. A dark and quiet sky represents a key asset to scientific exploration and research. Due to the increasing number of objects in outer space, especially in the low earth orbit, the protection of a dark and quiet sky from interference vis-à-vis human activities has gained urgency. The engagement of the international community is essential to devise effective regulatory solutions, acknowledging different perspectives.

The 2023 edition of the IISL/ECSL Symposium considered legal principles and mechanisms to enable effective protection of the night sky, thus supporting limitation of light and radio pollution from space activities for the benefit of present and future generations. The selected speakers represented perspectives from different space actors, pragmatically addressing current challenges and shared concerns. Thus, the Legal Subcommittee was informed and supported in its next steps regarding the topic.

Symposium programme