Space Law & Space Security - Νational and International Challenges and Opportunities

With every aspect of space-related technology in a climactic development phase, and with all the more actors being either interested to or already engaged in space exploration and the exploitation of capabilities the Space provides in various sectors of human activity, it is high time that robust and up-to-date legal and policy frameworks be developed, in a national and international level. The continuous rise of opportunities that space exploration provides is driving humanity in new space race, this time with governmental and non-governmental actors, and technologies hitherto unfathomable. This situation is certain to provoke security risks in various levels, and especially those linked with nations’ defense and security. This essay will attempt to encapsulate the basis of existing regulation regarding the Space domain, and furthermore approach security and military-centered issues with a combined legal and policy approach. Finally, a short and specific focus will be given to the Greek and European general policies that constellate with these issues, in an attempt to highlight risks and possibilities for a stable space policy in the near future.