Today, the Corpus Juris Spatialis successfully addresses general principles of exploration and use of outer space but it struggles to keep up with the development of outer space activity. After half a century of maintaining legal order in the space sector, the Outer Space Treaty (OST) now fails to satisfy the requirements of space operations' long-term sustainability. It is indeed challenged by the growth of both privatization and national regulation.

On one hand, space law is gradually shifting towards profit-oriented dynamics marked by globalization and civilian applications of space technology. On the other hand, international responsibility and liability under the OST compels states to adopt national legislation to ensure strict adherence of domestic space activity with international public law principles. However, the OST contains deliberate omissions with respect to several fundamental or precise provisions. This leads to a rather heterogeneous mosaic situation illustrated by a varying degree of national space policy implementation and state activity.  Hence, in order to fill the gap, national space legislation inherits a highly technical burden covering crucial aspects such as licensing and supervision of space activities, mandatory insurance, responsibility, liability, space debris mitigation and environmental matters.

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