IISL Spring Space Law Symposium

IISL - International Institute of Space Law

Organised by the IISL with the support of the Amsterdam Space Law & Sustainability Centre and Durham University' Space Research Centre

Organised by the IISL with the support of the Amsterdam Space Law &amp; Sustainability Centre and Durham University Space Research Centre (SPARC), the IISL Spring Space Law Symposium 2026 will examine the extent to which the existing international legal framework governing outer space is capable of accommodating rapid technological and operational developments. Across three panels co-moderated by Dr PJ Blount, Dr Ioana Bratu and Dr Laetitia Cesari, the symposium considers how emerging technologies, evolving uses of space, and increasing environmental pressures challenge foundational principles of space law, including jurisdiction, responsibility, and international cooperation.The first panel addresses the legal implications of novel technological applications, including suborbital transportation, artificial intelligence, and life sciences research in space, alongside questions of intellectual property beyond territorial limits. The second panel turns to the resilience of established legal instruments, notably the Outer Space Treaty regime, in light of new operational realities such as satellite constellations, blockchain-based governance tools, and competing models of resource regulation. The third panel focuses on sustainability, examining whether current legal doctrines sufficiently address issues of environmental protection, space debris mitigation, and the accountability of both state and non-state actors.The symposium explores whether incremental adaptation of existing norms is adequate, or whether more structural legal developments may be required to ensure the continued viability of space activities as a shared domain. Programme:📅 10:30- 12:00 Panel 1: Emerging Technologies and Implications for Space Law- Space Governance for Suborbital Flights: Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Nations - Beauler Wozhele - Department of Legal Compliance, Law Space Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe; Lulekwa Makapela - National Earth Observations and Space Secretariat (NEOSS), Council For Scientific &amp; Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa- AI in the Cosmos: Toward an Adaptive Legal Framework for Space Governance - Yangzi Tao- Life Science beyond Earth: Exploring the Legal Landscape in Outer Space Exploration - Marie-Claire de Bruijn, University of Cologne, Germany; Chesler Thomas, Space Generation Advisory Council, France; Emily McColville, Carleton University, Canada; Sireesh Pallikonda, Skyroot Aerospace, India- A Comparative Study of Patent Infringement in Cyberspace and in Outer Space - Beyond the Limits of Territorial Jurisdiction - Hisako Moriguchi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan 📅 13:00-14:30 Panel 2: Reinterpreting Established Space Law Frameworks in Contemporary Contexts- Registration in the 21st Century: Ensuring Adequate Registration Under The Existing Legal Regime - Martin Reynders, German Space Agency at DLR; Lew Töpfer, Diplomatic Academy Vienna; Gina Petrovici, German Space Agency at DLR- Implementation of The Outer Space Treaty Through Blockchain-based Systems - Krisztina Tilinger, Institute of Space Law and Policy, Ludovika University of Public Service; Széchenyi István University, Doctoral School of Law- Recommendations on Registering Space Objects Forming Part of a Satellite Constellation - Franziska Knur, German Space Agency at German Aerospace Center (DLR), Bonn, Germany; Bernhard Schmidt-Tedd, Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany- Remove before launch: Collisions between space activities regulated under the Outer Space Treaty and the Antarctic Treaty System - Victoria Valdivia Cerda, Chile, Global Fellow, European Space Policy InstituteThe risk of replacing the consensus principle in space with alternative rule setting: a comparison of space mining with deep-sea mining - Scott Scoular, Air &amp; Space Law LL.M. Candidate, McGill University 📅 14:30-16:00 Panel 3: Legal Dimensions of Space Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility- Space Sustainability as a Common Concern - Maria Elena de Maestri, University of Genoa; Mario Barbano, University of Genoa- Questioning the International Legal Framework for a Responsible and Sustainable Space Tourism Activity - Caroline Thro, Lincoln University Nebraska- Orbiting Odyssey: Analysing National and Regional Measures for Cleaning up Space Junk - Roshan Menon, Prospective Member, International Institute of Space Law; Anmol Dhawan, Prospective Member, International Institute of Space Law- Addressing the Legal Gap of Responsibility of Non-State Actors for Space Pollution - Matthew Gillett (University of Essex Law School), Katja Grunfeld (Institute of Air Law, Space Law and Cyber Law, University of Cologne) , Iva Ramuš Cvetkovič

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IISL Spring Space Law Symposium

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