Toward an equitable governance of space resources: A policy-oriented framework for sustainability and resilience

Abstract

As human activities expand across Earth orbit, the Moon, and other celestial bodies, the governance of critical space resources has become a pressing issue, exposing persistent gaps in current international regulatory mechanisms. This paper advances a policy-oriented vision for equitable and resilient space governance, grounded in sustainability principles and ethical imperatives. Through the lens of key domains—ranging from spectrum allocation and orbital debris mitigation to planetary surface rights and data governance—it explores how the discourse on space resources reveals deeper challenges for multilateral coordination, institutional leadership and strategic foresight in a multipolar world. The study underscores the need for adaptive international frameworks that align with both technological advancements and shifting geopolitical conditions. It outlines a set of core principles for inclusive governance and advocates for strategic leadership and global partnerships to operationalize this vision. Drawing on the policy outlooks of key global and regional actors—including the European Union, the United Nations system, and leading space policy institutes—it calls for a globally engaged, integrative and forward-looking governance vision for outer space.

Keywords

• Space governance
• international space policy
• sustainability and resilience
• planetary stewardwship
• space resource regulation

Ethical Statement

This paper meets the standards of research and publication ethics.

Uzay kaynaklarının adil yönetişimine doğru: Sürdürülebilirlik ve dirençlilik odaklı bir politika çerçevesi

Abstract

Dünya yörüngesi, Ay ve diğer gök cisimlerinde insan faaliyetlerinin artmasıyla birlikte, kritik uzay kaynaklarının yönetişimi acil bir mesele haline gelmiş; mevcut uluslararası düzenleyici mekanizmalardaki kalıcı boşlukları gözler önüne sermiştir. Bu makale, sürdürülebilirlik ilkeleri ve etik zorunluluklar temelinde şekillenen, adil ve dirençli bir uzay yönetişimi için politika odaklı bir vizyon sunmaktadır. Spektrum tahsisi ve yörünge enkazının azaltılmasından gezegen yüzey haklarına ve veri yönetişimine kadar uzanan temel alanlar çerçevesinde, uzay kaynakları etrafındaki söylemin çok kutuplu bir dünyada çok taraflı koordinasyon, kurumsal liderlik ve stratejik öngörüye dair daha derin zorlukları nasıl ortaya koyduğunu incelemektedir. Çalışma, hem teknolojik ilerlemelerle hem de değişen jeopolitik koşullarla uyumlu, uyarlanabilir uluslararası çerçevelerin gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır. Kapsayıcı yönetişim için temel ilkeleri ortaya koymakta ve bu vizyonun hayata geçirilmesi adına stratejik liderlik ile küresel ortaklıkları savunmaktadır. Avrupa Birliği, Birleşmiş Milletler sistemi ve önde gelen uzay politika enstitüleri gibi küresel ve bölgesel aktörlerin politika yaklaşımlarından yararlanarak, dış uzay için küresel ölçekte etkin, bütüncül ve geleceğe dönük bir yönetişim vizyonu çağrısında bulunmaktadır.

Keywords

• uluslararası uzay politikası
• Uzay yönetişimi
• sürdürülebilirlik ve dirençlilik
• gezegensel sorumluluk
• uzay kaynaklarının düzenlenmesi

Ethical Statement

Bu makale araştırma ve yayın etiği standartlarını karşılamaktadır.

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