50 KM · 24 MONTHS · 2026–2028

Programme

Four phases mark the project's reporting structure. The workstreams cut across them, so evidence gathered late still revises conclusions drawn early.

MONTH171319
WS1 LEGALCOMPARATIVE LEGAL ANALYSISWS2 STAKEHOLDERS45 INTERVIEWS · CO-DESIGNWS3 POWERCOPUOS AND STANDARDS BODIESWS4 FRAMEWORKSYNTHESIS · VALIDATION
PHASEFOUNDATION
& MAPPINGPRIMARY
RESEARCHFRAMEWORK
DEVELOPMENTDISSEMINATION &
IMPLEMENTATION
WS1 COMPARATIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, MONTHS 1–18 · WS2 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, MONTHS 4–20 · WS3 POWER DYNAMICS MAPPING, MONTHS 6–20 · WS4 FRAMEWORK INTEGRATION, MONTHS 12–24. PHASES RUN 1–6, 7–12, 13–18 AND 19–24. WORKSTREAM SPANS ARE INDICATIVE · SCROLL HORIZONTALLY ON NARROW SCREENS

WHERE THE PROJECT HAS GOT TO

The award runs across 24 months. This page is dated, so that a reader can tell a plan from a report.

AS AT 5 SEPTEMBER 2026
AWARD START DATE TO BE CONFIRMED
CURRENT PHASE TO BE MARKED

PHASE 1 · MONTHS 1–6

Foundation and Mapping

Doctrinal groundwork in all seven jurisdictions, construction of the stakeholder map, and the interview protocol. Ethics approvals and partner agreements complete.

DELIVERABLE

Stakeholder Ecosystem Report

PHASE 2 · MONTHS 7–12

Primary Research

The bulk of the 45 interviews, documentary analysis of COPUOS and standards-body submissions, and the first co-design sessions with operators and insurers.

DELIVERABLES

Comparative Legal Report
Industry Governance Practices Database

PHASE 3 · MONTHS 13–18

Framework Development

Drafting of the accountability framework, the model clauses and the duty-of-care typology, each iterated against regulator and industry review.

DELIVERABLES

Audit-Ready Accountability Framework
Model Cross-Border Incident-Reporting Clauses
Comparative Duty-of-Care Typology

PHASE 4 · MONTHS 19–24

Dissemination and Implementation

Publication of the open-access toolkit and policy briefs, roundtables in London and Montreal, presentation at the International Astronautical Congress, and the edited volume proposal.

DELIVERABLES

Interactive online toolkit
Open-access policy briefs
Edited volume proposal

FULL LIST OF OUTPUTS →EVENTS →