In the final episode of our mini-series Space Security is Here and Now, we reflect on the critical yet often overlooked topics of language, diversity, and institutionalisation—key topics that are just as important as the substantive security issues discussed in official forums. We explore the nuanced distinctions between the militarisation and weaponisation of outer space and examine why these terms are essential for shaping future space governance.

We also discuss the vital role that civil society organisations, like the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), play in influencing space security discussions, particularly through their support of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on space security.

Key topics include:

• UNIDIR’s development of a space security lexicon to clarify key terms like "militarisation" vs. "weaponisation" and "dual-use" vs. "dual-purpose."
• The importance of building common understanding across multi-lingual, cross-disciplinary, and highly technical fields.
• How diversity, inclusivity, and institutional frameworks are essential for tackling space security challenges.

Join experts Victoria Samson, Jessica West, Almudena Azcárate Ortega, and Sarah Erickson in this final episode as they unpack these pressing issues and provide expert views on the future of space security.

For more information:

• A Lexicon for Outer Space Security - https://unidir.org/publication/a-lexicon-for-outer-space-security/

• https://indico.un.org/event/1002352/ The side event co-sponsored by Australia, the Philippines and UNIDIR at the September 2022 meeting of the UN Open-ended working group on reducing space threats
• https://spacesecurityportal.org/