On 11 th June 2025, the Italian Parliament accepted a lengthy &# 8209; waited for regulation controling authorization, guidance, liability, and promotion of space tasks carried out within Italian region or abroad by Italian operators (Law n. 89 of 13 th June 2025, the “& ldquo; Area Legislation & rdquo;-RRB-. [*******************
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The Space Regulation marks a first step in managing essential facets of area activities in the Italian lawful system, including launches, orbital procedures, celestial spaces expeditions and debris elimination.
It also establishes the “ & ldquo; Area Economic Situation Fund & rdquo;, a national fund with an initial allowance of 35 million Euros for 2025, targeted at supporting development and investment in the space sector, along with reinforcing Italy’& rsquo; s role in the space economic climate, currently substantial in regards to technical and scientific experience –– as evidenced, as an example, by the fact that greater than 40 % of the International Spaceport Station’& rsquo; s habitable quantity has been produced in Italy [1]
Consent to Room Tasks and Core Provisions
A central aspect of the new structure is the requirement of prior consent for conducting “& ldquo; space activities & rdquo;(broadly specified to consist of launches, re-entry and in-orbit procedures, assembly and use of orbiting spaceport station, as well as human short or long-lasting outer space goals), to be requested to the competent authority, i.e. the Prime Minister or the handed over political authority.
Such authorization may cover a solitary operation, numerous activities of the same kind, or interconnected activities of various kinds, including the launch of numerous satellites within a constellation under a solitary authorization.
The providing of permission undergoes operators meeting certain technological and financial needs. These include making sure safety and security throughout all phases of space tasks, from style to re-entry, with measures for particles reduction and the avoidance of light and radio disturbance. Technical requirements likewise include the resilience of satellite infrastructures versus cyber , physical, and interference risks, e.g. with encryption and back-up systems, along with compliance with environmental sustainability criteria, consisting of an assessment of the influence of space items throughout their entire lifecycle.
Operators shall additionally comply with general standards of conduct, show ample technological and professional skills, and show monetary ability proportionate to the threats entailed (with more versatile criteria related to start-ups and SMEs).
The permission is also subject to the repayment of administrative prices and to a payment analyzed because of the candidate’& rsquo; s profile and of the mission & rsquo; s scientific purpose and range. International consents might be identified by Italy where supplied under worldwide treaties or, in various other instances, where equivalence with the requirements set out in the Area Law can be established.
The treatment governed by Space Regulation is expressed and might take up to 120 days for the issuance of consent, involving several institutional actors, such as the Italian Area Firm and the Interministerial Committee for Area and Aerospace Study Policies (“& ldquo; COMINT & rdquo;-RRB-.
Obligation and Insurance Commitments
Under the Area Regulation, drivers are subject to a strict liability routine for third-party problems resulting from their area tasks, both in the world and in flight. Exception from obligation is admitted only where the operator proves that the damages was created solely and deliberately by a third party unconnected to the area operation which such occasion could not have been prevented, or was created only by the victim.
This liability program is consistent with the insurance obligations imposed on operators for the issuance of the permission under the Space Regulation. As a matter of fact, in addition to the above technological and monetary demands, drivers are further needed to maintain appropriate insurance coverage for problems, with protection caps of approximately Euros 100 million per event, and to make sure access to a collision-avoidance solution.
Enrollment of Area Things
In line with the responsibilities imposed by worldwide space treaties, the Area Law presents a nationwide public register of area things. This register, to be maintained by the Italian Room Agency, is developed as an available and structured instrument for the organized recording of all space things released under Italian jurisdiction or control.
The register offers a number of objectives: it makes sure transparency and traceability of room tasks, facilitates the tracking of properties in orbit, and plays a vital role in the allocation of obligation (as outlined over), by allowing the identification of the driver and of the State liable in the event of damage.
Supervision and Sanctions
Under the Room Regulation, supervisory features are left to the Italian Room Company, which is granted access to all files and details worrying the certified area activity and the related room things placed in orbit. If tracking can not be performed for factors attributable to the operator, a management fine in between Euros 150, 000 and 500, 000 may be enforced.
In even more serious cases, such as the conduct of unapproved room tasks or their continuation beyond the expiration of consent, the infraction triggers criminal obligation on the driver.
Ending Remarks
The adoption of the Area Legislation represents a turning point in settling Italy’& rsquo; s function within the international space industry, which is obtaining boosting strategic and geopolitical significance.
The brand-new framework under the Space Legislation is total consistent with international space-law policies —– for instance, the Outer Space Treaty [2] and the Registration Convention [3] — through its emphasis on previous authorization demands, registration of room objects, liability and debris monitoring. It additionally complies with the course of many States that have already enacted residential regulations in these locations [4]
At the same time, the reform remains only an initial step and its real efficiency will mostly depend on implementation, left to honest decrees, which will certainly be decisive in equating general principles into practical rules.
In this context, the proposition for an EU Room Act [5] will need to be thoroughly assessed, to ensure consistency with nationwide regulations currently adopted by several Member States and to stay clear of overlaps.
[1] In March 2001, with the launch of the Leonardo logistics module, Italy became the 3rd country —– after Russia and the United States —– to position a component of the ISS in orbit. Italy additionally constructed Node- 2 Harmony and Node- 3 Harmony , the Cupola , and contributed to the European laboratory Columbus (see Italian Room Firm’& rsquo; s website, at the following web link https://www.asi.it/en/life-in-space/international-space-station/
[2] & ldquo; Treaty on Concepts Regulating the Activities of States in the Expedition and Use Outer Space, consisting of the Moon and Other Heavenly Bodies & rdquo;, considered the foundation of international room regulation. Worked out within the United Nations structure, it was opened for trademark on 27 January 1967 and participated in force on 10 October 1967 Since May 2025, it has 117 States Celebrations —– consisting of Italy and all major spacefaring countries —– and 22 extra notaries.
[3] & ldquo; Convention on Registration of Furnishings Released right into Deep Space” & rdquo; , adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1974 and went into pressure in 1976 Since February 2022, it has actually been validated by 72 states, consisting of Italy.
[4] As provided in the “ & ldquo; National Area Regulation Data Source & rdquo; held by the United Nations’ & rsquo; Workplace for Outer Space Affairs offered at the adhering to web link: https://astro.unoosa.org/astro/national-space-law-landing-page.html
[5] The EU Room Act is a legal effort released by the European Compensation on 25 June 2025 with the aim of presenting a harmonised structure for room activities across the European Union. (see https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space-act_en