Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Space Missions: Investigating Legal Challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59759/law.v4i4.1259Keywords:
Artificial intelligence, Space Exploration, Liability, Legal challenges, Autonomous AIAbstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging and impactful technology across different sectors. AI has been particularly significant for improving efficiency and accuracy in operations. One of the areas that AI has had a huge impact is in space exploration. However, the emergence of AI in space exploration has come with difficulties and challenges, particularly in assigning fault in situations where the use of AI systems cause harm. This paper examines the impact of the widespread AI usage in space exploration, analyzing the legal challenges that the use of autonomous AI technologies in space objects may entail, particularly in determination of liability.
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, Space Exploration, Liability, Legal challenges, Autonomous AI
Downloads
References
Anne-Sophie Martin and Steven Freeland, “The Advent of Artificial Intelligence in Space Activities: New Legal Challenges” p. 5.
Bratu, I, A R Lodder, and T Van der Linden. "Autonomous space objects and international space law: Navigating the liability gap." Indonesian Journal of International Law, 2021: 423–446.
Buiten, Miriam, Alexandre De Streel, and Martin Peitz. "The law and economics of AI liability." Computer Law & Security Review, 2023.
Cinelli, Ilaria. Will AI redefine human roles in space exploration? January 28, 2025. https://spacenews.com/will-ai-redefine-human-roles-in-space-exploration/ (accessed July 7, 2025).
Dennerley, J A. "State liability for space object collisions: The proper interpretation of ‘fault’ for the purposes of international space law." European Journal of International Law, 2018: 281–301.
Ebers, Martin. "Regulating AI and Robotics." In Algorithms and Law , by Martin Ebers , & Sussana Navas , 44. Cambridge University Press, 2020.
ESA. Artificial intelligence in space. August 3, 2023. https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Preparing_for_the_Future/Discovery_and_Preparation/Artificial_intelligence_in_space (accessed July 7, 2025).
—. ESA purchases world-first debris removal mission from start-up. December 1, 2020. https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/ESA_purchases_world-first_debris_removal_mission_from_start-up (accessed July 7, 2025).
Freeland, S, and D Ireland-Piper. "Space law, human rights and corporate accountability." UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs, 2022: 1-34.
Maryam Altamimi and Mohammad Farooqui, "The Extent of Space Carrier’s Liability for Damages," University of Sharjah Journal of Law Sciences 21, no. 1 (2024): 560.
George Anthony Gal et al., “Artificial Intelligence in Space,” arXiv (2020)
HLEG. Liability for Artificial Intelligence and Other Emerging Technologies. European Commission’s Group of Experts on Liability and New Technologies , 2019.
Ioana Bratu et al., “Autonomous Space Objects and International Space Law: Navigating the Liability Gap,” Indonesian Journal of International Law 18, no. 3 (2021): 437.
Laura. The power of AI in space exploration. December 20, 2024. https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/the-power-of-ai-in-space-exploration/ (accessed July 7, 2025).
Lyall, F, and P B Larsen. Space Law: A Treatise. Routledge, 2017.
Martin, A, and S Freeland. "The Advent of Artificial Intelligence in Space Activities: New Legal Challenges." Space Policy, 2021: 101408.
Materion. 6 Key trends in shaping space technology in 2025 and beyond. January 30, 2025. https://www.materion.com/en/insights/blog/six-key-trends-shaping-space-technology (accessed July 6, 2025).
Nacimento, Gracie. A general introduction to Space Law in Germany. 2023. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8fcb085a-8145-4622-901f-098ef2298af9 (accessed July 7, 2025).
Ndung’u , Njuguna, and Landry Signé. The Fourth Industrial Revolution and digitization will transform Africa into a global powerhouse. January 8, 2020. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-and-digitization-will-transform-africa-into-a-global-powerhouse/ (accessed July 6, 2025).
Pagallo, Ugo, Eleonora Bassi, and Massimo Durante. "The Normative Challenges of AI in Outer Space: Law, Ethics, and the Realignment of Terrestrial Standards." Philosophy & Technology , 2023.
Selbst, Andrew. "Negligence and AI's human users." Boston University Law Review, 2020: 1315-1320.
Signé, Landry, and Hanna Dooley. How space exploration is fueling the Fourth Industrial Revolution. March 28, 2023. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-space-exploration-is-fueling-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/ (accessed July 7, 2025).
Smart, William D, Cindy Grimm, and Woodrow Hartzog. "An education theory of fault for autonomous systems." Notre Dame Journal on Emerging Technologies, 2021: 35-55.
Smith, H, and K Fotheringham. "Artificial intelligence in clinical decision-making: Rethinking liability." Medical Law International, 2020: 131.
Solowey, Jack. “AI Providers Should Not Be Liable for Users’ Securities Violations” 2024 https://www.cato.org/commentary/ai-providers-should-not-be-liable-users-securities-violations
Sullivan, Hannah, and Scott Schweikart. "Are current tort liability doctrines adequate for addressing injury caused by AI?" AMA journal of ethics , 2019: 2.
Tomsia, Marcin, et al. "Long-term space missions’ effects on the human organism: what we do know and what requires further research." Frontiers in Psychology, 2024.
Tricco, Giovanni, et al. "The protection of AI-based space systems from a data-driven governance perspective." Acta Astronautica, 2025: 73-86.
Vernile, A. The Rise of Private Actors in the Space Sector. Springer, 2018.
Wattles, Jackie, and Ashley Strickland. NASA’s Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore finally return home after more than nine months in space. March 18, 2025. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/18/science/spacex-crew-9-astronauts-space (accessed July 6, 2025).
