Space law in Poland

Last updated: 30.09.2025

International space law is gaining importance as more member states, private companies, and international organizations expand their activities in outer space. The legal framework sets out legal principles, rights, and obligations concerning outer space affairs, from the launch of satellites to environmental protection and dispute resolution. at the

The governance of outer space is shaped by international agreements and United Nations frameworks – most notably the Outer Space Treaty – that guide the use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

Poland and the European Union are actively shaping their approach to outer space affairs by combining international treaties with national space legislation and regional policies. Upcoming domestic agreements aim to regulate the fast-growing space sector while supporting space exploration, space missions, and the space industry through international cooperation.

Key Facts on Space Law in Poland and the EU

Space law in Poland

Current legal principles

Poland is in the process of creating modern regulations for the space sector. The basic document is to be the draft Act on Space Activities (UD20), which is currently undergoing legislative work. Until its adoption, space activities are based on:

• international law obligations,
• the Act on the Polish Space Agency (POLSA)
• general provisions of commercial law.

The current model is not yet comprehensive, but it gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to conduct business based on existing regulations and, at the same time, allows them to prepare for new national space laws.

Market practice

Poland does not yet have a system of formal permits for space activities. In practice, entrepreneurs consult with the Ministry of Development and Technology and POLSA, which act as institutions supporting and reviewing projects.

The registration of space objects launched into outer space is currently carried out on an individual basis.

Although the procedure is not standardized, it allows for projects to be carried out with the participation of the state administration and for activities to be tailored to the specific nature of a given undertaking.

Space Law in European Union (EU Space Act)

At the European Union level, there is also no single, comprehensive EU space law (EU Space Law / Space Act) yet. An initiative in this area has been proposed and work on it is ongoing. The current legal framework consists of several elements:

• Regulation (EU) 2021/696, which establishes the EU Space Program and the EU Space Program Agency (EUSPA), specifying their budget and operating rule
• Technical Standards (ECSS), which are not formally EU law but are mandatory standards in contracts for the European Space Agency (ESA) and in many EU projects.
• Horizontal EU regulations, i.e., general regulations that also apply to the space sector, such as GDPR, REACH, or regulations on the export of dual-use technologies.

Key institutions include:

• Directorate-General for Defense Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), which manages the EU Space Program and proposes new regulations in coordination with the European Commission at the international level.
• EU Space Program Agency (EUSPA), responsible for the operational management of programs such as Galileo and Copernicus.
• The European Space Agency (ESA), an independent international organization that works closely with the EU and is the main source of technical standards for the European space sector.

Market access and requirements for goods and services

ECSS standards

Access to the European space market, including participation in the EU Space Program, is subject to compliance with specific technical and organizational standards. The ECSS (European Cooperation for Space Standardization) standards are of key importance to international cooperation among member states.

Compliance with ECSS is a prerequisite for any entity wishing to supply:

• components,
• software,
• services within the European supply chain.

ECSS standards include, among others:

• requirements for the design of electronic and mechanical systems,
• procedures for testing components for resistance to vibration, vacuum, and radiation,
• standards for project, documentation, and quality management (Product Assurance).

ESA and EUSPA contract procedures

• registration in the ESA-STAR (System for Tendering And Registration) system – a basic requirement when applying for contracts,
• in the case of ESA optional programs – obtaining a Letter of Support from the national delegation, which in Poland is coordinated by the Ministry of Development and Technology.

The Letter of Support confirms that the project is in line with the priorities of the Polish Space Strategy and contributes to the development of the national sector.

Intellectual property in ESA projects

Intellectual property rights issues in cooperation with ESA are precisely regulated. These rules are derived from, among others, the following documents:

• “General Clauses and Conditions for ESA Contracts,”
• “Rules on Information, Data and Intellectual Property.”

The adopted model provides for:

• Foreground IP – the rights to the results obtained during the performance of the contract remain with the contractor. At the same time, ESA and all member states (and entities operating under their jurisdiction) receive a broad, free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable license to use these results for research and technological purposes.
• Background IP – property rights held prior to the conclusion of the contract remain with the contractor. However, the contractor is obliged to grant ESA a license to the extent necessary to implement the project and use its results.

Export Control and Dual-Use Goods

Space technologies are often dual-use, meaning that they can be used for both civilian and military purposes. The sale of such technologies outside the European Union is subject to strict controls and requires individual export licenses. (more on this here:

Changes in regulations

Poland – Space Activity Act (UD20)

The basis for the future legal framework in Poland will be the Space Activity Act (UD20). Its purpose is to create a coherent regulatory system that will:

• define space activity,
• centralize oversight of the sector,
• introduce uniform procedures for entities conducting space activity from Polish territory or subject to Polish jurisdiction.

Permit to conduct activities

The new act provides for the introduction of a requirement to obtain a permit to conduct space activities. This means that any satellite launch or operation will require prior approval.

Each space object for which a permit is issued will have to be entered in the National Register of Space Objects.

The role of POLSA

The central regulatory authority will be the President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA). Its powers will include:

• issuing permits for space activities,
• maintaining the National Register of Space Objects,
• supervising and controlling the activities of operators,
• imposing financial penalties in the event of violations.

Operator Responsibility and the National Register of Space Objects

Under international space law, the state bears absolute responsibility for objects launched into space. The proposed law introduces a recourse mechanism that shifts the burden of this responsibility to the operator conducting the activity.

In practice, this means that entrepreneurs will have to include appropriate risk management and insurance mechanisms in their business models.

EU – EU Space Law

At the same time, work is underway to create a uniform space law at the European Union level. The proposed EU Space Law aims to harmonize national regulations and standardize operating rules across the community.

The new regulations are to cover in particular:

• space traffic management (STM),
• security and resilience of satellite systems,
• sustainable use of outer space, including regulations on so-called “space debris.”

This act is planned to enter into force around 2030.

Law in Space – conclusion

The legal framework for space activities in Poland and the EU is still in transition, but its foundations are already well established.

By combining international obligations with new legislative initiatives, policymakers aim to create rules that will foster growth while addressing risks such as liability, safety, and sustainability.

In the coming years, the success of these efforts will largely depend on the ability of states, institutions, and private actors to cooperate effectively and to adapt regulations to the challenges of an increasingly complex space environment.

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