Paper Contents
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming space exploration by enabling autonomous spacecraft, robotic missions, satellite operations, and large-scale data analysis. These innovations enhance efficiency, safety, and scientific discovery, yet they expose profound legal and ethical gaps. Current space law, rooted in mid-twentieth-century treaties such as the Outer Space Treaty (1967) and the Liability Convention (1972), does not anticipate AI-driven autonomy or decision-making without human oversight. Questions of accountability, liability, and ethical responsibility arise when AI systems malfunction, cause collisions, or engage in resource extraction beyond clear legal frameworks. Privacy and cybersecurity concerns also intensify as AI-powered satellites conduct real-time monitoring and data processing. This article examines how existing treaties, national regulations, and commercial practices intersect with AI governance, highlighting unresolved challenges of liability attribution, ethical oversight, and international cooperation. It concludes by recommending global governance reforms, including AI-specific liability mechanisms, cybersecurity standards, and ethical frameworks to ensure responsible space exploration.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Hamid ur Rehman. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
