Comparative Analysis on the Legal Framework of the Privatization of Space Transportation

Abstract

In Japan, its main launcher, H-IIA, was privatized in 2005 and is now operated by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, and this was an important turning point for all of the space industries, government and space agency(JAXA) in Japan. However in Europe, the Ariane rocket series have been operated by private company, Arianespace, for more than a few decades and now Arianespace has the largest share in the space transportation market in the world. Based on this situation, this paper is to compare and analyze the form and legal framework of the privatization of space transportation, especially focusing on the difference between Europe and Japan.