IRIS2: Asserting Autonomy in the New Space Age

In the burgeoning space-scape of the New Space Age, the European Union (EU) has embarked on a quest to fortify its dominion over space communication systems through the ‘Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite’ (IRIS2) constellation, under the auspices of the EU Secure Connectivity Programme. This paper explores the sovereignty motivations of the EU, the precipitated legal issues arising from participation of European private space actors and the exclusion of non-European competitors in the building and operation of the IRIS2 constellation, and ramifications on the EU’s sovereignty prerogative. By addressing these complexities, this paper seeks to enrich the understanding of the interplay between commercial actors, sovereignty of space systems, the operational legal and contractual approaches to liability, and provide a glimpse into how the EU has embarked on asserting autonomy in these challenging circumstances.