Riyadh: The Centre for Space Futures announced the release of the third specialized paper in its series, "The Future of Space Law," titled "Operationalizing Space Governance." The paper addresses a growing gap between the foundational principles of international space law and the operational realities of a rapidly commercializing space environment.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the paper draws on comparative analysis of successful global commons governance frameworks, including international civil aviation under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Antarctic Treaty System, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the International Telecommunication Union. It proposes a voluntary, modular, three-tier Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) framework for outer space.

Managing Director of the Centre for Space Futures Eng. Mishaal Ashemimry stated that the space sector has reached a point where governance should continue to evolve through the development of practical implementation mechanisms. She emphasized that the SARPs framework provides a concrete and scalable pathway for states and operators to coordinate safely and responsibly as space activities continue to grow in complexity and scale.

The paper outlines implementation pathways at national, bilateral, regional, multilateral, and industry levels, reflecting the principle that governance evolves through layered adoption. It further identifies structural challenges specific to the space domain, including mission diversity, technologies with both civil and commercial applications, and the unique nature of space, which makes governance in this domain more complex compared to other global commons domains.