We are living in an era not only dominated but often driven by new and emerging technologies. Today, there is indeed no aspect of human life that is untouched by technologies in some form or another. 

    

Space technology is a classic example of an emerging capability that has a multitude of applications in both civilian and military segments. In the area of global navigational systems, satellites perform multitudes of tasks while orbiting both near and far orbits round the Earth. While remote sensing satellites are used to map the Earth`s surface, communication satellites enable the successful operation of extensive global communications of various types. As the new capabilities bring in new opportunities, they also bring in their wake new challenges, particularly when the applications involve both commercial opportunities and security concerns. 

    

The conference at King`s College London, which was attended by a group of experts, not only in remote sensing and communications satellite technologies but also in legal and ethical matters related to these capabilities, has been timely. It is hoped that this volume will give an informed basis to continue the debate on the opportunities and challenges relating to the commercialisation of space.

Professor Dr. Jasani has an MSc in Nuclear Physics and a PhD in Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Medicine.  Between 1958 and 1972, he worked for the British Medical Research Council and then joined the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in Sweden in 1972. In 1987, Dr. Jasani joined the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies, London, as a Rockwell International Fellow. His main interests are nuclear non-proliferation and the militarisation of outer space. In 1984, he conceptualised the Western European Union Satellite Centre, the concept that was realised in 1991 and is now one of the key institutions of the Council of the European Union. In 1990, he joined the Department of War Studies, King`s College London, University of London, where he is currently a visiting professor. Between 1996 and 2000, he wrote several reports for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on behalf of the governments of the United Kingdom and Germany on the use of commercial observation satellites to enhance the Agency`s safeguards procedures resulting in the establishment of a Satellite Imagery Analysis Laboratory. He has participated in a number of European Commission (EC) projects under the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme, in which he coordinated treaty monitoring and early warning of conflicts and natural disasters projects using commercial remote sensing satellites. He was a member of the World Economic Forum`s Network of Global Agenda Council on Space Security since between 2011 and 2014. He is a member of the Adjunct Faculty, Faculty of the International Strategic and Security Studies Programme, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India. Apart from 25 scientific publications, he has published some 200 papers on nuclear and space arms control issues. He has written edited and co-edited 20 books and monographs on these subjects. He received the 2011 Gold Asian Achievers Award from Asian Business Publications (ABPL), which publishes premier newsweeklies for British Asians in the UK. He is on the editorial board of the Space Policy, a journal that specifically deals with all aspects of outer space activities.

Dr. Ram Jakhu is Associate Professor, Institute of Air and Space Law, Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He holds the following degrees: BA, LLB, LLM (Panjab), LLM (McGill) and Doctor of Civil Law (on Dean`s Honors List). Dr. Jakhu has over 30 years of experience in space-related fields. He was the first director of the Master of Science in Space Studies at the International Space University, Strasbourg, France. He also served as the Director of the Centre for Research of Regulated Industries of McGill University and the Research Director of the Space Security Index Project. Currently, he teaches courses relating to space law and policy, public international law and relations. Dr. Jakhu is author/editor of several books and numerous published papers, research studies and consulting reports. He has given expert legal opinions around the world. He is the recipient of the International Institute of Space Law`s Distinguished Service Award for significant contribution to the development of space law. Dr. Jakhu is a member of the Space Security Council of the World Economic Forum, a Fellow of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) and the Chair of its Legal and Regulatory Committee. He served on the Board of the International Institute of Space Law for fourteen years.