Space Launchers

This chapter outlines certain core legal topics that arise in connection with the delivery of a separated payload into or beyond Earth orbit. The first part deals with some of the established approaches to procuring launch services, as well as some of the common features of launch service agreements that balance the interests of the launch service provider and its customer. The second part of the chapter looks at governmental authorization required to carry out a launch. While safety standards and success rates continually improve, launching a space object is still the riskiest part of most space missions and is therefore a carefully regulated aspect of space activity, with participants having to obtain prior authorization from a competent national authority. Finally, the third part explores some of the legal consequences in international law of launching a space object, including the maintenance of a register of space objects launched, and the burden of liability that is placed on “launching states.”