EU Proposes New Space Act to Regulate and Secure Orbit
![Ilustracja: European GNSS Agency (GSA) [gsa.europa.eu]](https://cdn.defence24.pl/2021/04/20/800x450px/sZUflOlRhdI2OvSN6YyiNaNskq6VhO9u1Z80mgZE.j93n.jpg)
The European Commission unveiled the draft of the „Space Act” – a proposed regulation aimed at reshaping how the European space sector is governed. With an increasingly congested, contested, and competitive orbital environment, the Commission aims to create a single legal framework to regulate commercial space activities across the EU. The proposal seeks to strengthen Europe’s security, resilience, and sustainability in orbit, while boosting the competitiveness of EU space companies in the global arena.
The Space Act is Europe’s boldest step yet toward creating a true single market for space services. While the EU has long supported space initiatives through Copernicus, Galileo, and IRIS², regulation of commercial space operators has so far remained fragmented and nationally governed. Under the proposed law, a single set of rules would apply to all entities operating in EU airspace – including non-EU companies offering services on the European market. The initiative reflects growing concerns over space debris, cyber threats, and the lack of coordination among satellite operators.
The proposal is built on three pillars. The first is security: stricter rules on space traffic management and debris mitigation would be introduced, ensuring safer use of orbit and reducing collision risks. The second pillar, resilience, introduces mandatory cybersecurity standards for operators of critical space infrastructure. Given the rise in cyberattacks on space-based systems in recent years, this component has been widely welcomed by national authorities. The third pillar focuses on sustainability, requiring operators to assess and limit the environmental impact of their missions, while promoting the development of on-orbit servicing and active debris removal technologies.
Importantly, the regulation will apply to all operators providing space services in the EU, regardless of their origin. This means non-EU providers will also have to comply with the new standards if they wish to operate on the European market. The proposal will now undergo negotiations under the ordinary legislative procedure and must be approved by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. If adopted, the Space Act could lay the legal foundation for Europe’s transition into a fully regulated, secure, and sustainable space power.
