Space Law
Legal Counsel for Companies Operating Beyond Earth
Eagle Law advises commercial space companies navigating the legal, regulatory, and contractual frameworks that govern activities in orbit, at launch, and on Earth. Our attorneys bring precision and experience to clients developing satellite constellations, launching spacecraft, commercializing space-based services, or contracting with government agencies. We support companies pursuing some of the most complex and ambitious missions in the space industry, offering end-to-end legal guidance that keeps innovation on course.
From regulatory approvals to risk mitigation and commercial strategy, we help clients build and scale space operations with confidence.
Comprehensive Legal Support for Space Ventures
Companies operating in the space industry face a multi-jurisdictional patchwork of regulatory regimes, including domestic licensing, international treaty obligations, export controls, and national security concerns. Eagle Law advises clients across every stage of the space lifecycle, including:
- Regulatory Licensing & Compliance: We guide clients through all aspects of federal regulatory compliance for space operations. This includes:
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Spectrum Licensing: We assist with applications for satellite communications licenses under Part 25 (satellite services), including geostationary (GSO) and non-geostationary (NGSO) systems, earth station authorizations, and experimental licenses for testing. We also advise on market access for foreign-licensed systems and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) coordination.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Launch & Reentry Licensing: We counsel commercial launch providers and payload operators on requirements imposed by the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST), including licensing under Part 440 (insurance and indemnification), Part 450 (launch and reentry), safety review procedures, and launch site licensing.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Remote Sensing Licenses: For earth observation companies, we help secure and amend NOAA licenses under the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act, and advise on compliance with national security, data handling, and foreign ownership restrictions.
- Orbital Debris & Mission Assurance: We assist clients in preparing debris mitigation plans, collision risk assessments, and other filings necessary to meet FCC, FAA, and international guidelines. We also advise on risk-sharing regimes and indemnification frameworks.
- Commercial Agreements & Government Contracts: Our attorneys draft and negotiate complex contracts for launch services, satellite procurement, payload hosting, data licensing, insurance, and inter-operator agreements. We also advise space companies performing under federal contracts, ensuring alignment with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and other government acquisition frameworks.
- Export Controls & National Security: We ensure clients comply with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and other export control regimes critical to space technologies. Our work includes advising on cross-border transactions, foreign ownership, technology transfers, and national security reviews under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
- Risk Management & Insurance Structuring: We counsel on risk allocation strategies in both commercial and dual-use contexts, covering indemnity provisions, liability caps, and insurance structuring for pre-launch, launch, and on-orbit activities.
- Corporate Structuring & Strategic Advisory: We advise space startups and growth-stage companies on entity formation, joint ventures, commercial strategy, and real estate transactions connected to spaceport or testing infrastructure. We also support talent acquisition through employment and equity agreements tailored to this capital-intensive industry.
Who We Serve
Eagle Law represents a broad spectrum of space-focused clients, including:
- Satellite manufacturers and operators
- Earth observation and remote sensing firms
- Launch service providers and spaceport tenants
- Space-based telecommunications and broadband providers
- Space robotics, in-orbit servicing, and debris mitigation firms
- Space manufacturing and resource extraction ventures
- Space propulsion and maneuvering
- Companies developing space software and AI systems for orbital assets
- Contractors supporting government space initiatives
We work closely with both commercial ventures and hybrid civil-military operators whose missions align with national space priorities.
Legal Counsel That Moves at Mission Speed
In a sector defined by technical complexity, tight timelines, and unforgiving margins, space companies need legal partners who speak their language. Eagle Law delivers agile, informed counsel grounded in real-world experience, combining the strategic depth of big law with the responsiveness of a boutique.
As the regulatory landscape evolves and competition accelerates, we position our clients to move quickly, manage risk, and execute with precision.