Topic guide

Outer space governance

The rules, institutions, and decision-making practices used to manage space activity in the public interest.

What it is

Outer space governance includes treaties, national laws, technical standards, institutional procedures, and policy norms that shape exploration and use of outer space.

Why it matters

As space activity becomes more frequent and more commercial, governance choices affect safety, accountability, scientific access, environmental protection, and long-term cooperation.

Current governance gap

Many legal rules were written before today’s operational realities. CGI studies how legal architecture can be clarified without overstating what current law already resolves.

CGI work

Start with OSTGAP for treaty implementation questions and the Lunar Project for long-duration governance scenarios.