Report of the NOSA/ECSL/UiO Space Law Symposium 2022
On 27 October 2022, the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), the ECSL and the University of Oslo (UiO) jointly organised a space law symposium which delved into "Adapting Regulations for the Rising Number of Spaceports", with experts discussing the legal aspects of the sustainable use of outer space during the first panel, whilst the afternoon panels focused on the industry and regulators' perspective pertaining to adapting regulations for the rising number of spaceports, a topic of utmost importance and growing in interest.
During the Symposium, industry professionals and experts presented their insights into the latest developments impacting outer space activities, especially in regard to the commercialisation of the sector and commercial spaceports. Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Director General of NOSA gave opening words for the participants which were comprised of regulators, governmental officials, students, academics, operators and industry professionals. In addition, Marco Ferrazzani, Senior Legal Counsel of ESA and Alla Pozdnakova, Professor at the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law of the University of Oslo, greeted the participants.
The one-day event then proceeded with a panel introducing the participants to the basics and core principles of space law. Experts focused on the legal background of space activities, discussing the fundamentals of different questions essential to understanding the main core issues of the two afternoon panels. Rosanna Hoffmann, Executive Officer of the European Centre for Space Law, moderated the panel consisting of Jenni Tapio, Chief Specialist for Space Law at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, Steven Freeland, Emeritus Professor of International Law at Western Sydney University, as well as Alla Pozdnakova and Marco Ferrazzani.
The second panel focused on the regulators perspective in regard to spaceports and launchers, which is of growing interest in light of the increase in launch services and the rising commercial use of spaceports. This panel delved into issues and questions posed by regulators across Europe due to the uptake of demand and supply in this specific area of the space sector and the possible need for increased regulation. The panel was moderated by Mari Amanda Eldholm from the Norwegian Space Agency, while Hege Aalstad, Head of Regulatory Development at the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway, Colin MacLeod, Head of UK Space Regulation of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Pedro Ferreira, Director of the Board Support Office at ANACOM and Jenni Tapio discussed the issue and answered questions from the participants.
The third panel focused on the industry perspective of the same issues, especially considering how to apply the existing rules and regulations, taking into account that until recently, space used to be synonymous with government spending, but the rising "New Space" actors and major technology advancements are due to a new entrepreneurial spirit rapidly shaping the space sector, which goes hand-in-hand with a possible need to rethink the current systems in place. The panel was moderated by Rosanna Hoffmann, and the panellists were Jan Skolmli, Chief Commercial Officer at Orbex, Emilie Siemssen, Lead Legal and Space Regulatory Counsel and Launch Director at GomSpace, Ingun Berget, President of Andøya Spaceport and Rada Popova, General Legal Counsel at Isar Aerospace.
