SPACE ‘TOURISM’: a Framework for Ensuring ‘safe and orderly development’ Lessons learnt from the U.S. and Aviation

In August (2023), following its successful mission, Virgin Galactic announced the intention
to provide scheduled services into space. Yet, this paper sets out to present evidence to argue
that, from an international (UN) perspective, there has been a lack of activity to establish
safeguards and, to ensure a fit for purpose governance and oversight mechanism is in place
for this new and, growing, sector – space tourism. The research is undertaken by way of a
comparison law/policy analysis which factors in key historic events across both aviation and
space. The main focus is given to the developments and approach of the U.S.
The research finds that there remains a number of areas where clarity and advancement is
needed both nationally (U.S.) and internationally; and that, without suitable governance and
frameworks being established – safety is compromised, and equitability is not ensured for
space tourists. It is advocated that there are clear lessons to be learnt from aviation
developments and practices and that one solution would be a governance and oversight
system as has been established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).