Speaker
Description
The rapid expansion of space activities, the proliferation of mega-constellations and the growing congestion of Earth orbit are generating unprecedented governance challenges for the long-term sustainability of outer space. The presentation explores a historical parallel between today’s orbital environment and the evolution of international civil aviation in the mid-twentieth century. In 1944, the Chicago Convention established the institutional and regulatory foundations that enabled aviation to evolve into a safe, interoperable and globally coordinated system through the creation of ICAO. Drawing on this precedent, the presentation examines whether similar governance principles could support the future management of outer space activities. Particular attention is devoted to Space Traffic Management (STM), capacity allocation, orbital sustainability and the need for internationally shared operational standards. The talk argues that the sustainability of space activities will depend not only on technological innovation, but also on the timely development of cooperative governance mechanisms capable of balancing commercial growth, strategic competition and the collective interest of preserving the orbital environment for future generations.