Legal Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Outer Space Activities and Explorations

Résumé

Outer space is an expansive domain that is majorly unexplored and uncertain. Gagrian and Armstrong have ushered an era of humans interacting with space. The space activities are always appended with certain degrees of risk and damage, whether it’s a case of placement of space modules, extraction of resources from moon or launch of space objects. The space agencies may resort to autonomous technologies without leaving them unguarded as a possible solution to hurdles faced by space industry. To reduce fallacies and errors, the space programmers are effectively absorbing the Artificial Intelligence techniques and methods into the system. The symbiotic interaction between humans and machines give rise to various legal and ethical implications including liability issues and privacy infringements. Not to forget the untraveled trails of missions to mars and moon are now easily trodden by rovers and robots driven by artificial intelligence. The paper makes a modest attempt to explain how the technology must be deployed to make for an optimum use, keeping in mind the sustainable measures. The technologies evolving over a period of time must aim towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal. A discussion on artificial intelligence and its interaction with outer space requires legal comprehension on issues that may arise over a period of time. The paper emphasis on retaining the fundamental foundation of fairness and accountability in the times of technological advancements.