Technical programme
IAC-25 — 76th International Astronautical Congress
E3. 38th IAA SYMPOSIUM ON SPACE POLICY, REGULATIONS AND ECONOMICS
This Symposium, organized by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), will provide overview of the current trends in space policy, regulations and economics, by covering national as well as multilateral space policies and plans. The symposium also integrates the IAA/IISL Scientific-Legal Roundtable.
- Coordinator
Jacques Masson
European Space Agency (ESA) — The NetherlandsPieter Van Beekhuizen
Stichting Space Professionals Foundation (SSPF) — The Netherlands
E3.1. International cooperation in using space for sustainable development: The “Space2030” agenda
As the societal benefits of space technologies and applications are growing, the international community has increasingly shifted its attention to their contributions to the global agendas on sustainability and development, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this regard, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) has decided to develop a “Space2030” agenda and its implementation plan. This session provides the opportunity to discuss the agenda as finalized at COPUOS 2021, its implementation, especially how international cooperation in space activities can contribute to these objectives.
- Co-Chair
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu
Commission d'Astronautique de l'Academie Roumaine — RomaniaNiklas Hedman
COSPAR — Austria
- Rapporteur
Alexander Soucek
Austrian Space Forum — AustriaPeter Stubbe
DLR (German Aerospace Center) — Germany
E3.2. The future of space exploration and innovation
Space exploration missions and plans have been emerging around the world, targeting different destinations from LEO, to the Moon and Mars, and with an increasing participation of new public and private actors. The session will focus on the current plans of future exploration missions of various space exploration stakeholders and will provide a forum to reflect on the trends and present the latest developments in the field.
- Co-Chair
Marc Haese
DLR, German Aerospace Center — GermanyNicolas Peter
European Space Agency (ESA) — France
- Rapporteur
Devanshu Ganatra
International Institute of Space Law (IISL) — United StatesAnmol Dhawan
International Institute of Space Law (IISL) — The Netherlands
E3.3. Economic Resilience and the Space Economic/Industrial Sector
Objective: The Space Economy Committee invites researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and scholars to submit paper abstracts that align with the economic dimensions of building economic resilience within the space sector, focusing on how the sector can adapt and thrive in the face of global economic uncertainties and disruptions. This session seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the strategies and mechanisms that ensure the continuity and growth of space activities, even under challenging conditions. Context: Resilience refers to the ability of the space economy and its associated activities, industries, and institutions to withstand, adapt to, and recover from disruptions, challenges, or shocks from unforeseen events. Submissions should address the following areas: - Definitions, measurement issues, and models/methods for analyzing the resilience of the space economy. - Data-driven approaches to understanding and enhancing the resilience of the space economy. - Case studies on how space missions or programs have adapted to or mitigated economic disruptions - Emerging markets and opportunities that enhance the resilience of the space economy. - Impact of new technologies (e.g., quantum computing, AI) on the resilience of the space economy. - Forecasting future economic trends in the space sector and their potential impacts on global economic resilience. Submission Guidelines: • Abstracts should be concise, clearly outlining the research question, methodology, key findings, and relevance to the theme "Economic Resilience of the Space Sector." • The submission should highlight the novelty and contribution of the work to the existing body of knowledge on economic resilience in the space economy. • Collaborations with organizations outside the traditional space community are encouraged to bring diverse perspectives and innovative approaches.
- Co-Chair
Pieter Van Beekhuizen
Stichting Space Professionals Foundation (SSPF) — The NetherlandsHenry Hertzfeld
Space Policy Institute, George Washington University — United States
- Rapporteur
Luigi Scatteia
PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory (PwC) — FranceBhavya Lal
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) — United States
E3.4. Assuring a Safe, Secure and Sustainable Environment for Space Activities
The space environment today involves a growing number of states, government consortia, and private sector entities with different strategic objectives and levels of economic and technological development. It is the responsibility of these actors to promote a secure, stable, and resilient environment in order to ensure uninterrupted access to space and security of space operations in Earth’s orbits and beyond, especially as space systems now support day-to-day civilian and commercial life in many countries, enabling socioeconomic prosperity. A number of established spacefaring nations have developed national policies and strategies to address these concerns. At a multilateral level, a body of principles and rules governing space activities was established during the second half of the twentieth century. However, the rapid pace of the development, testing, and fielding of various launch technologies, as well as on-orbit systems for terrestrial support and exploration of the cis-lunar orbit and beyond, brings unprecedented challenges to all space operators. It is the purpose of this session to seek to address them.
- Co-Chair
Peter Stubbe
German Aerospace Center (DLR) — GermanyJana Robinson
The Prague Security Studies Institute — Czech Republic
- Rapporteur
Gina Petrovici
German Space Agency — Germany
E3.5-E7.6. 39th IAA/IISL Scientific Legal Roundtable: Lunar Operations and Orbital Management: Governance in Cislunar Space
(Invited papers only, please do not submit abstracts as these will be rejected) Recent lunar landings on both the near and far sides of the Moon along with orbital missions in cislunar space by governmental and commercial entities all point to an accelerating effort to explore and establish a long-term human presence on and near our celestial neighbor. The diversity of governmental and commercial entities engaged in the lunar effort indicates that the numerical dominance of commercial satellite systems in Earth orbit is about to be replicated in cislunar realms with growing concerns over what constitutes “best practices” to ensure sustainable lunar operations and regulatory regime. At the June 2024 UNOOSA Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities, the parties to the U.S.-led Artemis Accords and the International Lunar Research Station agreement between Russia and China discussed how frequency and time management, safety zones, lunar orbit traffic management, and protection of historical and sensitive scientific sites require regulatory mechanisms developed for the specific needs and conditions of the lunar realm. The IAC 2025 IAA-IISL Roundtable will seek to continue that dialogue by engaging roundtable panelists and audience in a wide-ranging discussion of the scientific-technological and legal-regulatory issues arising from the growing number and intensity of governmental and commercial exploration missions to cislunar space.
- Co-Chair
Rainer Sandau
International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) — GermanyLarry Martinez
International Institute of Space Law (IISL) — United States
- Rapporteur
Nicola Rohner-Willsch
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) — GermanyIvan Fino
Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) — Italy
E3.6. Financial Viability and Profitability of Space Business Models
The financial viability of space business models is an important critical factor that determines the feasibility and success of all space missions and the profitability of private space activities, especially when substantial investments are involved. Evaluating the financial viability of a Business Model involves estimating the total costs associated with the life cycle of the mission, as well as the revenue stream associated to it, among many other factors. The purpose of this session is to discuss the various practices for assessing risk, financial viability and profitability of space business models to ensure that projects with the highest chances of success and financial return are pursued. These efforts can be public, private, or some combination of different types of entities. The importance of understanding and using acceptable and well understood methodologies and practices will be the emphasis of the panel discussion and papers presented at this session.
- Co-Chair
Christine Klein
European Space Agency (ESA) — FranceHenry Hertzfeld
Space Policy Institute, George Washington University — United States
- Rapporteur
Karina Miranda Sanchez
ESA — The Netherlands
E3.IP. Interactive Presentations - 38th IAA SYMPOSIUM ON SPACE POLICY, REGULATIONS AND ECONOMICS
Authors with an abstract accepted for an interactive presentation will be asked to prepare slides and display them for the duration of the congress on plasma screens. Authors will be assigned to interactive sessions in which they must be near plasma screens to engage in interactive discussions with other congress attendees.
- Co-Chair
Jacques Masson
European Space Agency (ESA) — The NetherlandsFranziska Knur
German Aerospace Center (DLR) — Germany