In this episode, Dr. Cassandra Steer sits down with Dr. Tristan Moss from UNSW Canberra to discuss the history of Australia’s involvement in space, focusing on the deep-rooted military influences that have shaped its space trajectory. From the launch of WRESAT, Australia’s first satellite developed through a military collaboration, to the Woomera testing range, a site with a legacy of missile testing and military technology development, Dr. Moss explores the legacy of defence interests in Australia’s early space initiatives.

The episode also looks at Australia’s strategic participation in the European Launcher Development Organization during the Cold War, where geopolitical alliances affected the importance of resilience and collaboration. Dr. Moss and Dr. Steer discuss the lessons of Australia’s military space history, the impact of public perception on the national space narrative, and how these histories continue to inform Australia’s current and future space policies.

• Moss T, 2024, '“Consider Carefully the Best Use of Our Limited Resources”: Australian Space Policy, 1960–72', Australian Journal of Politics & History, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajph.12995
• Moss T, 2020, '‘There Are Many Other Things More Important to Us Than Space Research’: The Australian Government and the Dawn of the Space Age, 1956–62', Australian Historical Studies, 51, pp. 442 - 458, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1031461x.2020.1766522
• ACSG pubic opinion survey "Looking Up From Down Under: Australian Attitudes to National Space Activities" https://www.spacegovcentre.org/_files/ugd/ed2eed_d028d1b713fe425d98f0ecb0064c1329.pdf

In this bonus episode of “Space Security is Here and Now”, Dr. Cassandra Steer interviews Jessica West, senior researcher at Project Ploughshares, to discuss her work on space security and her latest report on “hidden human insecurities in space”. The conversation covers the human impact of space activities, emphasising the uneven distribution of space benefits and harms, and the importance of addressing these issues through diverse, inclusive governance.
Jessica highlights the challenges marginalised communities face in accessing space capabilities, particularly the critical role of connectivity, and explains the concept of “triple vulnerability” in the context of space security threats. They also explore the need for alternative, human-centred approaches to space security, including intersectional feminism, human rights, and environmental stewardship.

• “Hidden Harms: Human (In)security in Outer Space: Consultation Report” https://www.ploughshares.ca/reports/hidden-harms-human-in-security-in-outer-space-consultation-report

• "Lost in Space: Feminist Considerations of Space Security" https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6159-0858

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/