SPACE LAUNCH
PODCAST
Space Law and the Next Frontier: Building Legal Frameworks for Humanity's Expansion into Space
In this episode of the Space Launch Podcast, we dive into the emerging world of space law with veteran and space attorney Trevor Hehn.
From military leadership to co-founding a space startup and launching his own law practice, Trevor shares his journey into one of the fastest-growing, yet least understood areas of the space industry.
We discuss how international law applies in orbit, the legal challenges entrepreneurs face in this new frontier, and why lawyers are as essential to space exploration as rockets and engineers.
Trevor is the founder of Hehn Law, a legal practice dedicated to helping space and emerging tech companies navigate regulatory frameworks, international agreements, and risk management in a rapidly evolving industry. A veteran Army officer and former JAG attorney, Trevor brings a unique mix of operational, legal, and entrepreneurial expertise to space law.
Contact Trevor: [email protected]
"Humanity will be a spacefaring people one day and it's exciting to help lay the foundation now for the laws and agreements that will make that possible."
Some Questions I Ask:
○ How did your military background lead you into space law and entrepreneurship?
○ What opportunities exist for non-technical professionals, like lawyers, in the space industry?
○ How do current international treaties shape what companies can and can’t do in space?
○ What legal pitfalls should space startups avoid early on?
○ Is space really the “Wild West,” or is there more law and order than people think?
○ What future challenges will space lawyers face as humans establish a permanent presence beyond Earth?
○ What advice would you give to other lawyers or entrepreneurs wanting to break into the space industry?
In this episode, you will learn:
○ How the Outer Space Treaty and Artemis Accords set today’s legal boundaries in space
○ Why every space startup needs to consider legal counsel from day one
○ The parallels between early internet law and today’s emerging space law market
○ How export controls and spectrum allocation impact satellite businesses
○ Why risk management is a superpower veterans bring to the space industry
○ The legal gray areas that still exist for future space hotels, asteroid mining, and orbital manufacturing
○ Trevor’s bold predictions for the future of space law
Other Show Notes:
Contact Trevor: [email protected]
Learn more about the Outer Space Treaty and Artemis Accords
Suggested reading: Space Law: A Treatise by Francis Lyall & Paul B. Larsen
