International law in outer space: Protecting against 'evil' corporate actors

From idealistic and romanticised images of new human civilisations thriving on other planets to harsh frontier struggles for survival, the experiences of humans living beyond Earth have captured the imaginations of generations. Technological advances mean human habitation of space is now closer to becoming a reality than ever before. This chapter draws upon classic science fiction texts such as Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy to explore the fictional dominance of corporate space actors controlling every aspect of human presence on Mars for the benefit of shareholders on Earth. This chapter also draws upon more contemporary science fiction such as James SA Corey's The Expanse novel series and examines the role of evil corporate actors conducting experiments on unknowing human test subjects for corporate gain, and the example of a corporate mining operator, Lukrum, in the National Geographic Mars series, which melds fact and fiction. The chapter interrogates whether international space law can address the imagined conflict that arises between different corporate actors competing for profits as well as between corporate actors and inhabitants of other planets seeking independence from colonial domination. This chapter heeds the warnings presented in science fiction about a future dominated by corporate actors and explores whether international space law can respond and protect vulnerable populations in space habitats.