Switzerland Moves to Regulate Space Operations — A New Legal Orbit for the Swiss Space Industry

by Jacques Bonvin, Boris Catzeflis

The Swiss Federal Council has unveiled a draft Federal Space Operations Act, marking Switzerland’s first national framework for space activities. The proposal introduces an authorization and supervisory regime, a dedicated liability system for damage caused by space objects, and a national register of space objects — bringing greater legal clarity to operators under Swiss jurisdiction. Designed to strengthen Switzerland’s position as an attractive hub for satellite operators and space ventures, the draft also embeds sustainability and long-term access to outer space at its core. In this newsletter, we outline the key features of the proposed legislation and assess what it could mean for space operators if adopted in its current form.

Key takeaways: 

• Establishment of a national legal framework: The Draft Swiss Federal Space Operations Act (SOA) establishes a dedicated, thematically narrow, legal framework governing space operations falling under Swiss jurisdiction, which implements UN treaties ratified by Switzerland.
• Introduction of a space operations license: The Draft SOA introduces a license requirement for the technical launch, positioning, control and monitoring of space objects.
• Introduction of a special liability regime: The Draft SOA introduces a strict (causal) liability for damages caused by space objects on the surface of the Earth or to aircraft in flight, and a faultbased liability for damages caused to another space object or to persons or goods on board another space object.
• Introduction of a national space objects register: Space objects are, as a rule, to be registered in a national register of space objects. Swiss law applies to such objects, in principle.
• Strengthening Switzerland as a hub for sustainable space operations: The Draft SOA aims to enhance Switzerland’s attractiveness as a hub for operators of satellite and other space objects, as well as to promote sustainable space activities and the long-term, peaceful use of outer space.