The New Laws of Outer Space: Ethics, Legislation, and Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

This book maps out the moral, legal and societal issues brought forth by the use of autonomous systems such as AI and smart robots in outer space. Humanity is on the brink of a new space era in which projects for permanent human colonies on the Moon and space missions with autonomous AI systems will soon become a reality. Principles and provisions of international space law fall increasingly short in tackling this scenario. Experts and institutions have recommended improvements to the legal framework, such as new international agreements, or policies that would not require any amendment to conventional law. Most of the time, such proposals and recommendations overlook the challenges posed by technology and how autonomous and intelligent systems in outer space require moral and legal standards of their own. This book argues that the traditional focus on satellite communications, space-related services, and the appropriability of celestial resources needs to be integrated by new laws of ...