Outer Space as a Global Commons: Competition, Contestation, and Regulation

Abstract

Outer space has re-emerged as a site of geopolitical contestation and private commercial exploitation, raising urgent questions about its governance as a global commons. This paper examines how existing state and private regulatory approaches address—or fail to address—the risks of a tragedy of the commons in space. Drawing on international relations theory and common-pool resource scholarship, particularly Elinor Ostrom’s principles of commons governance, this research reviews case studies from India, the China-Russia collaboration, Africa, and the U.S., along with initiatives from the private sector such as Sputnix, SpaceX, Isar Aerospace, and LandSpace. Through comparative analysis of these state and commercial initiatives, the paper demonstrates how current governance structures are fragmented, often exclusionary, and lacking in enforcement and adaptability. These weaknesses create vulnerabilities to resource overuse, regulatory gaps, and increased strategic competition. This paper proposes that a polycentric governance model, involving overlapping jurisdictions and inclusive multi-stakeholder participation, offers a more sustainable solution. Such a model would better align with Ostrom’s principles by balancing state interests, integrating private actors, and safeguarding space as a global common for future generations.