Open source rocket development

Question

Is it possible to collaborate openly (publicly) world-wide with others to develop a suborbital/orbital capable rocket/launcher and to publish the resulting know-how (both software and hardware)? There are laws that restricts exports of arms (ITAR in US, similar in EU) which may apply to publishing such info.

It looks like ITAR does not care about information that is publicly available (ITAR paragraph 120.11) but I am not sure if I understand it correctly. Can someone confirm?

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Answer 1

It’s perfectly legal for private individuals and organisations to develop rockets

Just like it’s legal for them to develop aircraft or motor vehicles. Space X, Boeing and BMW are all private organisations.

While any of these could be used as weapon delivery systems, they aren’t weapons.

There are a bunch of laws and regulations that they must comply with, but that’s true of any business.