What is Space Law?
A body of legal norms came into existence to regulate the relations between states, international organizations, and private persons arising from the exploration and use of outer space (Bogaert, E.R.C. van. 1986. Aspects of Space Law. Deventer: Kluwer Law and Taxation).
Law that intended to regulate relations between states to determine their rights and duties resulting from all activities directed towards outer space and within it, and to do so in the interest of mankind as a whole, to offer protection to life, terrestrial and non-terrestrial, wherever it may exist (Diederiks-Verschoor, I.H.Ph. and V. Kopal. 2008. An Introduction to Space Law, 3rd Revised Edition. The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International).
Malaysia & Space Law
Malaysia plays a growing role in the space sector through the Malaysian Space Board Act 2022 (Act 834), which regulates space activities locally and aligns with international law.
Act 834 sets out three main types of authorisation and registration requirements for Malaysia’s space activities:
License requirements – to build or manufacture space objects, for owners or operators of testing and integration facilities, and owners or operators of launch facilities
Launch permits – for domestic launch service providers
Launch certificates – for owners of space objects who launch their own objects domestically or abroad
Registration of space objects – for space objects that have been successfully launched into orbit