From EU Soil to Outer Space: Regulation as an enabler for Spaceports

The Alliance for European Autonomous Access to Space (AEAAS)’s Project will review over 40 jurisdictions under more than 30 individualized regulatory key items, to identify best practices, standards, and guidelines, and deliver a foundational, turnkey regulatory proposal that will enhance the European Union’s space autonomy and competitiveness and serve as a direct input for the new EU Space Act. Recognizing the urgent need for a unified European framework concerning spaceports, this project will map, assess, and benchmark available practices and regulations worldwide against a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) focused on safety, sustainability, interoperability, and robust security. The deliverable portfolio includes critical outputs, such as a Regulatory Review and Assessment KPI Reports, a White Paper on Regulatory Pathways, and a Final Common Regulatory Practices Proposal. We will furthermore identify and analyze regulatory gaps and shortcomings that currently hinder European space activities. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive set of common regulatory practices and guidelines for European spaceports, designed to strengthen the internal market, enhance our strategic autonomy, and position the EU as a global leader in the New Space economy. The AEAAS Consortium’s Project gathers 14 leading organizations across 6 jurisdictions, including spaceport operators, launch service providers, brokerage, consultancy, and legal experts, supported by national space agencies from countries with robust ecosystems and proven expertise as Associated Partners, thus combining operational experience from multiple spaceports with deep regulatory expertise to address challenges posed to deliver the Call objectives and expected Outcomes. This proposal is future-proofed by incorporating insights from a wide range of industry experts and regulators, including non-EU partners, who provide unique perspectives on globally mature, commercially driven launch environments.