The application of unambiguous and precise terminology grounded in standardized terminology and a common regulatory language underpins the effectiveness of national legal provisions.
In contrast to national legal systems, international instruments are developed in several languages employing abstract terminology, which is unique in the space industry, since most of the terms have no equivalents in other areas of law. Within the paradigm of space law these aspects turn out to be Achilles` heel of space law and one of key challenges to an effective application.
This inefficiency may be attributed to the peculiarities of space terminology development, occurring not through the natural and empirical scientific procedures, but under the process of diplomatic proposals and political agreements, further complicated by cross-national linguistic, cognitive, and cultural differences. Consequently, these circumstances resulted in the abstractness, inconsistency, and incompatibility of the predominant space law concepts. Adding to the problem is the fact that the corpus of space law terms was principally formulated by states, as subjects of international law, possessing the varied purposes underlying space activities without an exclusive authority in space. Simultaneously, the states attempted to establish a cohesive abstract terminology applicable to the entirety of outer space and every type of space activity.
Ultimately, the conceptual ambiguity of terminology contributed to the ineffectiveness of the international regulation of space activities, while most of the regulatory provision took on a quasi-voluntary character.
Against this background, the present study focuses on the search for solutions to establish an adaptive, universal, logical, and precisely formulated terminology of space law and space activities.
Against this background, the present study focuses on the search for solutions to establish an adaptive, universal, logical, and precisely formulated terminology of space law and space activities.