Space Law 101: Everything Scottish solicitors need to know as space commerce accelerates

From satellites to spaceports, there’s no denying Scotland’s strong presence in the space industry, so what do Scottish lawyers need to know about the laws that govern the sector? Ellie Philpotts investigates.

Is there space in your diary to ponder who legally looks after what lies above us? Have you got time to planet? It might be time to make a star.

There’s enough going on in law on the ground to keep you busy, but space law is emerging as a serious contender too. With Scotland leading the way for the UK, we look at the basics of what Scottish lawyers should know.

Giant leaps for mankind

The UK space industry is a perhaps surprisingly influential driver of the national economy. Surging after World War Two, it currently contributes more than £19bn in revenue, with satellite services underpinning 18% of UK GDP. In Scotland, approximately 8,000 people work in space-related jobs, while globally the space economy is projected to grow from around £270bn in 2019 to £490bn by 2030.

The UK also demonstrates the collective nature of space. It’s among more than 60 signatories of NASA’s Artemis Accords (2020), which set out principles of peaceful civil space exploration and usage.

Space specialist Dr Nicholas Ross, CEO of Niparo, feels people are increasingly attuned to how space law can affect us all. Scottish lawyers might be more familiar with on-the-ground concepts such as intellectual property, commercial rights, telecommunications or even quantum technologies, but space law isn’t just about building rockets – it can impact us all. And not just lawyers: the UK Space Agency has just collaborated on pharmaceuticals manufacturing, for instance.

Who governs where?

Traditionally, space law is a tricky area to navigate. Space is vast, largely uninhabitable and difficult to define through borders, so agreeing who takes responsibility for where gets complicated.

The five international UN Space Treaties promote international accountability and harmony. They are the 1967 Outer Space Treaty on principles/non-appropriation amid Cold War tensions; the 1968. Rescue Agreement (assisting astronauts in distress); 1972’s Liability Convention (damages); the 1975 Registration Convention (tracking objects); and the 1979 Moon Agreement (resource management).

Outer Space Treaty principles were incorporated into UK law in 1986. “This essentially says states have responsibility for their own space activities and aspects launched by them. They’re liable for damages and should be peaceful and avoid objects of mass destruction,” Dundee-based space lawyer Dr Alexander Simmonds explains to the Journal.

“Domestic law includes a licensing regime, including those for launch and spaceport operators. Without these, there’s no space industry,” adds Irvine-based lawyer Toby Kelly-Simpson, a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council.

And should Scottish space law be devolved, like some elements such as planning, or reserved within Westminster, as is usual under the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)?

“There’s only so much you can do to regulate on international scales – a lot is national,” explains Professor Andrew Wilson, member of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group, Space.

Local links

Scotland is a prolific host of commercial space-based facilities, with Glasgow’s Skyrora obtaining the first UK vertical space launch operator licence in 2025. Meanwhile, SaxaVord, the UK’s first fully licensed vertical-launch spaceport sits in Shetland and plans its first launch in 2026.

Scotland is proportionally small, but it is attractive to space developers internationally. Its wide-ranging, rural landscapes maximise potential for relatively undisruptive space activities, despite some environmental concerns.

But it’s about more than that, as Corrin Miller, Corporate Associate at Edinburgh’s CMS UK, explains: “Scotland is rapidly establishing itself as a key player in the global space economy, underpinned by a combination of strategic geography, industrial capability and policy ambition.

“[The country’s] high-latitude coastal locations offer ideal conditions for launching satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits – critical for Earth observation missions.

“Industrial strength is another cornerstone. Edinburgh is emerging as a centre of excellence for space data analytics and Earth observation applications. Across Scotland, more than 200 space-related companies operate within a robust ecosystem supported by a skilled workforce and world-class research institutions. This network enables ‘end-to-end’ capability, from satellite design and production to launch services and advanced data analysis.”

“Scotland leads the UK, and the UK leads Europe,” agrees Nicholas. “Scotland is perhaps more dynamic and forward thinking.”

Why now?

“Policy support has been equally decisive,” continues Corrin. “The Scottish Space Strategy (2021), aligned with the UK’s National Space Strategy and 2024’s Space Industrial Plan, sets a clear vision: to capture a £4bn share of the global space market and create 20,000 jobs by 2030. Government investment – totalling over £130m since 2019 – has backed infrastructure, innovation and skills development.

“These factors position Scotland not only as a regional hub, but as a globally competitive centre for sustainable, high-value space activity.”

In February 2026, the Space Industry (Indemnities) Act was enacted.

It changes minor changes to the 2018 Space Industry Act. However, as Ruairidh Leishman, Senior Associate at Scottish space specialists Shepherd and Wedderburn, explains: “Its consequences could and should be significant for the entire sector. The CAA is now obliged to specify a limit on the amount of the licensee’s liability in respect of the activities authorised by the licence. This is a change from the former position whereby the regulator is permitted, but not mandated, to do so.”

Nicholas agrees that it should positively contribute to more sustainable practices.

John Grady, MP for Glasgow East and former lawyer, introduced the Private Members’ Bill. He told the Journal: “The space industry is key to modern life, enabling us to pay people, buy tickets and get directions on our mobile phones.

“In Glasgow, we make more small satellites than any other European city. I’m proud my Private Members’ Bill on space is now officially law. The Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025 will help push forward Scotland’s space sector and help create jobs of the future for young people in Glasgow and across the UK.”

Ruairidh adds: “The Bill was a welcome, sensible proposal from John Grady MP. The imposition of unlimited liability can make it difficult for the UK space industry to obtain commercially affordable insurance.”

Making the jump

Toby advises those not already in space law to have an open mind: “[Space law] doesn’t have all the answers to existing or potential problems – and while this can be good in research, it may be more difficult in practice. The best thing is to give it a go!”

With the above evidence and dates acting as just small samples of space’s increasing entwinement into law in Scotland and beyond, it seems he might be right.