Advancing Multistakeholder Governance in the Space Sector: Emerging Dynamics and the Case of Space Traffic Management

Over the past three decades, space activities have evolved rapidly. Reusable launchers have revolutionized the economics of access to space, low-orbite satellite deployment has intensified to the point of causing substantial risks of catastrophic overload, and space resource exploitation has emerged as a new domain of investment and experimentation. The stakeholders taking part in this ecosystem have diversified, with up-and-coming national and regional agencies joining space-related international fora, breaking up the Russian-American duopoly of the Cold War, while private actors are gaining unprecedented prominence. 

Yet, space governance remains primary shaped by the five UN space treaties adopted between 1967 and 1979. The longstanding resilience of the institutions stemming from these foundational initiatives deserves recognition, but the scale of recent transformations makes the case for governance innovation more pressing than ever.

Ahead of the international Space Summit set to happen in September in Paris, the Technology and Global Affairs Innovation Hub together with the European Space Agency are organizing an expert workshop dedicated to the evolution of space governance, with a particular focus on the management of Earth's increasingly congested lower orbit.

Advancing Multistakeholder Governance in the Space Sector: Emerging Dynamics and the Case of Space Traffic Management will happen on September 2, from 17:15 to 19:15 in the amphitheater Erignac, 13 rue de l'Université. 

Invited experts will examine the emerging challenges facing space governance today and work collaboratively toward a shared path forward for more inclusive and functional multistakeholder collaboration. Discussions will be structured around two keynote addresses and panels on:

• Emerging space issues and the transformation of space governance
• Space Traffic Management as a governance test case

This is a closed-door workshop conducted under the Chatham House Rule, with participation by invitation only. Experts who have not yet received an invitation but wish to attend may register their interest via the above link.

A small group of PSIA master students will also join the event, contributing to the discussions and helping synthesize the takeaways in a policy document that will be passed on to the Summit.

Speakers to be announced.