ABSTRACT
The international legal regulation of outer space has evolved in response to the rapidly expanding activities involving the exploration and use of outer space, beginning at the height of the cold war era. Space law is now an important part of public international law, incorporating signifi cant developments in both space technology and international environmental law. This chapter considers the legal instruments and soft-law principles governing the outer space environment and space activities and explores whether the international law in this area is equipped to deal with the considerable challenges that lie ahead.
