Space Governance

Governance in outer space defines principles for several different sets of relationships, such as those between people or organizations on Earth; between people and organizations on Earth and their colleagues on temporary or permanent missions in space; or people on Earth and inhabitants of near or deep space societies; or space societies interacting with one another. These relationships have given rise to what lawyers call "Astrolaw" (involving space habitat societies and related business or activities), and "Spacelaw" (referring generally to political/commercial interactions among Earth inhabitants conducting space activities from the home planet). "Space Governance" is primarily about Spacelaw. This book is intended as a reference work related to the future development of living in space. It addresses the history and pattern of national and international governance of space activities, and the consequential issues being discussed regarding the desirability and workability of an international or global space agency.