Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (WAM)
Trends Research and Advisory has revealed the results of an elite opinion poll, conducted by its Global Barometer Department on "Space Uses and Regulations." The opinion poll measures the opinions of experts and specialists on the future of space exploration and the legislations that regulate its uses. It identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the global space industry.
The survey results concluded that the vast majority of respondents, about 93.5%, demand binding international agreements governing the fair and equitable distribution of space resources, while 90.3% of the experts and specialists believe that space regulation is important to guarantee responsible use.
All respondents stressed the importance of establishing common international standards for space exploration and use, while 80.7% expressed concerns about potential conflicts between international space systems. However, the vast majority (90.3%) are concerned about the possible militarisation of space.
International Regulations
About 93.5% of the respondents also believe that private space companies should be subjected to international regulations to ensure responsible practices, while 87.1% support international cooperation in space exploration. Regarding knowledge of space legislation in their countries, 45.2% said they do not know about it, while 38.8% said they have some knowledge of it.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of Trends Research and Advisory, said that outer space has become a source of countless explorations and discoveries that benefit all humanity.
He added that with the development of space exploration technologies and their increasing importance, it has become necessary to develop binding international legislation to regulate the use of space. Accordingly, the Trends survey to measure the opinion of experts and specialists on the uses of space and the need for its regulations is quite significant.
Dr. Al-Ali stressed that the laws regulating the use of space provide a clear legal framework for exploring and using outer space. This maintains security and stability in space and promotes international cooperation. It also contributes to the economic and scientific development of all countries.
The CEO of Trends indicated that the two-month survey assessed the regulatory realities of the growing space sector. It provided insightful scientific recommendations that contribute to the sector's development and enhance a deep understanding of its prominent opportunities and challenges.
Sultan Majid Al-Ali, Director of the Global Barometer Department at Trends, said that the survey of "space uses and Regulations" found that most of the respondents (74.2%) are optimistic about the potential contribution of space technologies to solving the environmental challenges facing the Planet Earth, while 58.1% believe that space exploration can contribute significantly to technological progress on Earth.
Environmental Impact of Space Exploration
However, two-thirds of the respondents expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact of space exploration activities.
Sultan Majid Al-Ali said that 61.3% of the respondents believe that private companies and government agencies should unite efforts to take the lead in future space exploration endeavors, while 48.4% believe that space exploration and development should be regulated through national laws and international agreements.
He stated that the survey results revealed that 64.5% of the respondents believe that private space companies should prioritise safety and environmental concerns without strict regulations, and 54.8% supported the idea of private companies extracting and using resources from celestial bodies.
In fact, 33.3% believe that international cooperation in space exploration can bring public benefits and promote scientific research in societies, while 45.2% of the respondents do not trust the current international efforts to prevent an arms race.
