Legal and governance frameworks for human habitation of outer space

Lead Researchers: Dr Stacey Henderson and Professor Melissa de Zwart

Benefits to life in space

While there is plenty of focus on the science and technology necessary to turn the once only imagined human habitation of space into a reality, little attention has been paid to the laws and policies that will apply to future human space habitats. Existing space laws and policies are far more concerned with regulating space activities connected to Earth-based actors than with the governance of future space habitats and the humans that will inhabitant them. With human habitats planned for the Moon and Mars within decades, it is crucial to consider and develop legal and governance frameworks for human space habitats. This project will critically examine planned human habitation of outer space, identify the essential needs of humans living in outer space, explore the likely impact of the choice (or lack) of legal and governance frameworks on the human experience within space habitats, and develop proposed legal and governance frameworks for the human habitation of space with a focus on protection of humans living in outer space.

Benefits to life on Earth

Benefits include improved understanding of the necessary legal protections for humans in future space habitats, which may be relevant to other remote and isolated environments.