On 25 June 2025, the European Commission published its proposal for a new Space Act. The wide-ranging piece of legislation seeks to create a single market for space activities in the EU, and introduces a slate of new rules for space operators regarding space debris, orbital traffic management, cybersecurity, and more.
Set to apply from 2030, the Space Act is the culmination of a years-long effort by the EU to replace the existing patchwork of national-level laws with a harmonized and more rigorous framework governing activities in the space domain. The proposal also reflects policymakers’ determination to grow Europe’s domestic satellite industry to meet ambitious goals for defense, connectivity, and the broader space-based economy. Now that it has finally been published, the Space Act will move on to the European Council and Parliament for further deliberation.
Key Highlights
The Space Act addresses virtually every stage of a space object’s lifecycle, from provisions on market authorizations and launch safety, to requirements for end-of-life disposal. It would also establish an unprecedented binding set of rules on space traffic management, obligating operators to ensure their craft meet certain trackability and maneuverability requirements which in turn complement other sections on collision avoidance, debris mitigation, and orbital traffic rules. To account for the varying sizes of constellations, along with their associated risks to orbital safety, the Space Act applies a tiered approach for many of these requirements, setting the threshold for mega constellations at 100-999 operational spacecraft, while giga constellations are defined as those exceeding 1,000. Other significant areas addressed in the proposed law include enhanced cybersecurity provisions and a requirement for operators to conduct environmental impact assessments aimed at reducing their carbon footprint.
Overall, the Space Act marks a seismic shift in the space governance paradigm. In one piece of legislation, the Commission seeks to take multiple aspects of space operations traditionally governed by international norms and voluntary standards, and apply binding measures to them backed by significant penalties for noncompliance (up to twice the amount of profits gained or lost by the breach, or otherwise 2% of total worldwide annual turnover). Anticipating that these new rules may spark concerns over competition with less-regulated jurisdictions, the law applies to non-EU operators providing space services in Europe, and includes additional requirements, like appointing an EU legal representative. Some of these requirements may be waived if the Commission determines the non-EU jurisdiction’s regulatory framework to be sufficiently equivalent to its own, offering further signal of the EU’s ambition to be a global leader and benchmark setter for space policy.
The legislative proposal will be examined and negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure.
Access Partnership helps clients navigate the regulatory complexities of satellite and space services through expert analysis and strategic guidance. We work with policymakers and businesses to shape policy and regulatory frameworks, helping clients understand how to adapt to them. To find out more, please contact Jacob Hafey at [email protected] or Alvaro Ovejero at [email protected].
Share
Authors
