The commercial space sector is growing faster than the legal frameworks designed to govern it. Launch operators, satellite companies, and orbital service providers operating in or from Australia face a complex intersection of domestic legislation, international treaty obligations, and emerging regulatory standards. We help clients navigate all of it.
The legal landscape
Australian space law is primarily governed by the Space (Launch and Return) Activities Act 2018 (Cth) and the Space (Launch and Return) Activities Rules 2019 — administered by the Australian Space Agency. These interact with international frameworks: the Outer Space Treaty 1967, the Liability Convention 1972, the Registration Convention 1975, and the Moon Agreement.
The commercial implications of this framework are significant. Australia has absolute liability for damage caused by space objects launched from its territory — meaning the licensing, indemnity, and insurance structuring around a launch is not merely a regulatory formality, but a substantive risk management exercise.
Space Law is one of the few areas of practice that is simultaneously cutting-edge and existentially consequential. We take both of those things seriously.
Areas of expertise
Services in detail
We advise launch operators on the full licensing process under the Space (Launch and Return) Activities Act — from pre-application strategy through to Australian Space Agency approval. We also advise Australian companies seeking FAA or other international launch licences for offshore operations, and assist with the mandatory insurance and indemnity arrangements attached to each authorisation.
We advise on ACMA spectrum licensing, ITU frequency coordination, orbital slot allocation, and the registration requirements under the Registration Convention. As orbital congestion increases, these processes are becoming more contested — and early legal engagement significantly improves outcomes for operators.
We advise on debris mitigation obligations under IADC guidelines and the Space (Launch and Return) Activities Rules, structure liability frameworks for multi-party missions, and advise on the risk allocation implications of Australia's absolute liability under the Liability Convention. We also advise on active debris removal venture structuring — an emerging commercial and regulatory area.
We draft and negotiate launch services agreements, satellite manufacturing contracts, ground station leases, data licensing arrangements, rideshare agreements, and in-orbit service contracts. Each involves bespoke risk allocation frameworks — standard commercial precedents do not translate to the orbital environment without significant adaptation.
We advise on the legal structuring of novel space business models — space tourism operator liability, in-orbit manufacturing ventures, lunar and asteroid resource extraction (noting the developing domestic and international legal frameworks), and the intersection of space assets with insurance, finance, and international trade law.
The frontier
The organisations that invest in understanding the legal framework now — before it crystallises — will be positioned to influence it. We help our clients stay ahead of it.
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