International state responsibility arising from new space activities

This thesis investigates the challenges faced by the state-centric legal model of the classical space era in the "New Space" age, where private-sector activity is rapidly expanding, and analyzes the resulting international responsibility of States. Chapter One lays the legal foundation of the classical regime by surveying the debate on the delimitation of outer space and the five principal UN space treaties. It then defines the notion of "New Space" and reviews commercially driven activities such as exploration, telecommunications, mining, and tourism. Chapter Two, drawing on the broad framework set by Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty and the detailed rules of the Liability Convention, examines the State-responsibility regime with respect to the distinction between responsibility and liability, the parties involved, the notion of damage, and the dual structure of strict and fault-based liability. Despite certain uncertainties, the study demonstrates that responsibility and liability continue to be established under the Outer Space Treaty and the Liability Convention.