DISCUSSION: Who Owns Space? Power, Law, and Geopolitics Beyond Earth
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Discussion: Who Owns Space? Power, Law, and Geopolitics Beyond Earth
For decades, outer space was imagined as a shared domain — the “province of all humankind.” Governed by UN treaties, it was meant to be used peacefully, cooperatively, and without national ownership.
But that vision is starting to crack. New space powers, private companies, and rising geopolitical competition are reshaping how space is accessed, controlled, and governed. Initiatives like the Artemis program (led by the USA and its allies) and the International Lunar Research Station (supported by China, Russia, and partners) point to a future where influence in space may mirror (or even intensify) power struggles on Earth.
As humanity returns to the Moon and looks toward Mars, space is no longer just a scientific frontier. It is becoming a strategic, political, and legal battleground.
✅ Free entrance (just grab a drink at the bar to support the venue!)
This raises difficult questions about global governance, inequality, and ownership beyond Earth. Who sets the rules when treaties lag behind technology? Will space become a new commons, or a new arena for domination?
In this discussion, we’ll explore how power, law, and geopolitics are evolving in outer space, and why these developments matter for the future of humanity.
Some guiding questions:
💬 Can outer space truly remain a shared global commons?
💬 Do new space agreements undermine or update existing international law?
💬 What role should private companies play in space exploration and resource use?
💬 Will space cooperation reduce global tensions or export them beyond Earth?
💬 Who benefits from the new space race, and who is left out?
Join us for an open and thoughtful conversation where all perspectives are welcome!
📅 Tuesday, 17 February
🕖 19:30 – 21:30
📍 Hostel Pulcinella, Bogaardeplein 1 – 2000 Antwerpen
👉 RSVP to let us know you’re coming!
Extra links to spark discussion:
How spacefaring nations could avoid conflict on the Moon:
https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/how-spacefaring-nations-could-avoid-conflict-on-the-moon
Secure World Foundation — Lunar Space Cooperation Initiatives:
https://www.swfound.org/publications-and-reports/insight---lunar-space-cooperation-initiatives
Short video on “The space race never ended”, by Neil deGrasse Tyson. A non-technical view on the underlying geopolitical motivations of the space race in the current era:
https://youtu.be/cy_H2BeE_Nk?si=vLs-BT3QIort2o-C