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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.