DOMESTIC LAWS AND POLICIES ON PRIVATE LAUNCH SERVICES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON COMPETITION IN THE GLOBAL MARKET

摘要

It has been suggested that, while the needs for access to space for the U.S. Government far exceed that of the commercial space industry and those of the other governments, it is unlikely that the unilateral or multilateral liberalisation of launch services for the U.S. Government would be welcomed with open arms by its domestic launch services sector. However, the increasing size of the commercial space industry, the existing dominance of the U.S. launch service providers and the threat of competition from foreign governmental launch service providers mean that the time is ripe for the international liberalisation of commercial launch services. This is particularly so as other States may feel compelled to further develop their launch capabilities, most of which are presently still in their infancy, as wholly or partly the response to the U.S. protection of its launch services sector. This international liberalisation may be done either by negotiations