Insurance, Liability & Risk in African Launch Markets
DATE & TIME:
April 22, 2026 1:10 pm - 1:50 pm
LOCATION:
| As African countries move from satellite customers to active participants in launch and space infrastructure manufacturing, the risk landscape is becoming more complex. Launch failure, third-party liability, space situational awareness, space debris exposure, contractual indemnities, and cross-border regulatory obligations are now material factors that determine if investors stay, foreign partners engage, insurers participate, and private operators join in. Without credible risk allocation frameworks, launch ambitions will not move from being politically symbolic to becoming commercially viable in Africa. This session examines how the African launch market can structure insurance and liability regimes that are internationally aligned and proportionate to market maturity. It will explore how governments balance sovereign guarantees with private responsibility, how insurers assess emerging launch jurisdictions, and what legal clarity is required to attract both launch providers and mid-to-downstream customers. The discussion will also address the intersection between national space laws, international treaty obligations, and the practical realities of underwriting risk in new markets. |
speakers
