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Sovereignty in Orbit: Can National Laws Govern Global Space Markets?

National space laws provide the licensing backbone for launches, spectrum, and remote‑sensing, but they cannot alone resolve cross‑border disputes that arise from global satellite constellations, orbital debris, and lunar‑resource activities. The Outer Space Treaty remains the legal floor, tying private operators to the responsibility of their state of registry, while domestic statutes such as the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act or Luxembourg's resource law add commercial certainty without creating universal rights. Multilateral mechanisms—ITU coordination, COPUOS discussions, and the Artemis Accords—offer partial harmonisation, yet their non‑binding nature leaves gaps. The article argues that a hybrid model, where national regulation leads but is quickly reinforced by international standards, is essential to prevent market fragmentation.