One giant leap for mankind is taking shape through the convergence of real and virtual worlds, powered by 5G connectivity, technologies such as AI and distributed ledger technology/blockchain, and data. The metaverse – which can be described as a world beyond our own physical world, where people exist in a virtual space through avatars, access…

Cybersecurity remains one of the central topics when it comes to the space sector, not the least because of the role that satellite networks play in society, from satellite communications to Earth Observation (EO), to navigation. Nevertheless, few national space legislations have expressly addressed the need to meet cybersecurity requirements. One such case is the…

“Regulatory sandboxes” is a concept mainly associated with the Fintech sector. It was originally developed to represent the creation of safe spaces for testing new products and services, under regulatory supervision, and excluded from the applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, this concept soon evolved and, in many countries, such as within the European Union,…

An increasing number of states are developing plans for setting-up spaceports, with suborbital flights and small satellites taking the center stage. In Europe, Portugal has been taking relevant steps, as it approved its Space Strategy 2030 on March 12, 2018. The country also approved the Space Act at the Council of Ministers, is setting up…