Governing Autonomous and AI Systems in Outer Space

Catalog description

This policy lab is a two-quarter course that examines how law and policy should evolve to govern the rise of autonomous systems in outer space - from AI-assisted satellite operations to self-directed on-orbit servicing and collision-avoidance technologies. The lab's policy client is The Aerospace Corporation, a non-profit organization that advises the U.S. government on space enterprise and systems engineering issues. The lab situates the rise of AI-driven autonomy and related technological developments within the emerging "New Space" era. Private companies such as SpaceX, Planet, and Astroscale are transforming the once state-dominated domain of space into a crowded and commercially driven ecosystem. As of 2024, about 10,000 satellites orbit the Earth, a number projected by the European Space Agency to grow nearly tenfold by 2030. Once in orbit, these satellites must navigate a spinning web of over 140 million pieces of space debris, all of which are moving at velocities several times faster than a bullet. This rapid expansion has amplified concerns about the risk of a cascading collision chain - known as the Kessler Syndrome - that could render key orbital regions unusable for generations. In this context, spacecraft are becoming increasingly automated, leveraging AI in navigation, collision avoidance, and mission management. Yet, this also raises urgent questions about how to regulate accountability, transparency, and safety in an increasingly autonomous orbital environment. The lab will run for two quarters. Students will analyze how responsibility is assigned when AI acts autonomously in space, how autonomous systems can be verified as safe and auditable, and how post-incident investigation and enforcement should function. Throughout the lab, students will engage directly with a range of stakeholders, including industry, government, and research institutions, to…