The position of the space and satellite sector at the forefront of innovation may be further boosted by rapid developments in AI and its potential in space applications. However, a central challenge is to create agile regulations that address risks and harms related to these novel technologies.
The integration of AI into space and satellite technology offers a range of opportunities for commercial and exploratory space activities. Some examples of these applications include the following:
Many of the technologies have the potential to be adopted terrestrially to manage space activities (e.g., from operation centres), as well as in space (i.e., in situ) as the technology advances. For example, AI-enabled data processing and selection could be deployed in situ to reduce the latency and cost involved with transmitting data to Earth.
At the international level, space activities are governed by four core United Nations space treaties which underpin the international framework for the use and exploration of space, responsibility of States and liability for space objects: the Outer Space Treaty, the Rescue Agreement, the Liability Convention, and the Registration Convention. Many States have adopted national space laws that incorporate these international rules and may establish a framework for regulating national space activities.
The international space treaties do not address the use of AI in space or for space missions, particularly because these treaties were agreed well before commercially available AI technology. Similarly, we are not yet aware of any AI-specific regulations in any national space laws. However, as space technology evolves, many of these national space laws are being reviewed and developed to accommodate new technology, which may include AI considerations.
Additionally, general AI regulatory developments may also impact the space and satellite sector, including the EU AI Act. Space and satellite systems that incorporate AI technology may fall within the high-risk category of the EU AI Act, depending on the use of the system (e.g., global navigation satellite systems that support EU emergency services may fall within scope where they incorporate AI systems for key functions like manoeuvring). Similarly, there may be considerations around personal data processing where AI enabled satellite systems collect imagery of the EU or are operated from the EU.
Other countries are also taking steps to regulate AI which may impact the space and satellite sector, including the UK, the U.S. and various APAC countries. These are at varying levels of maturity and the relevance of these regimes to the space and satellite sector will depend on their finalised scope.
More specifically for space and satellite activities, NASA has released a Framework for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence which outlines key principles to guide NASA’s use of AI and intends to provide guidance to industry more broadly. Similarly, we may see further guidance develop in the space and satellite sector to address AI regulation at the national level but also the international level, particularly where there may be intersections with existing guidance (e.g. the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines).
When considering the use of AI in the space and satellite sector moving forward, some of the questions that may need to be considered include the following:
The opportunity to leverage AI in the space and satellite sector is clear but the sector will need to navigate the current regulatory uncertainty and consider issues like those discussed above as the regulatory landscape evolves.
For further information, please contact Hayley Blyth.
This article was published in the special AI edition of our monthly Connected newsletter, to view the full newsletter or to sign-up to receive future newsletters for the latest Regulatory & Public Affairs news and updates, see below: