tech

December 21, 2025

There’s a new space race

The commercialisation of the cosmos is already underway, and our current laws aren’t fit for purpose

There’s a new space race

TL;DR

  • Human hubris has historically shaped our understanding of space, from geocentrism to the vastness revealed by telescopes.
  • Space exploration is progressing through three eras: confrontation (military-driven), collaboration (international efforts), and commercialization (private companies and billionaires).
  • The commercialization of space raises urgent questions about ownership, legal frameworks, and ethical considerations, especially regarding resource exploitation.
  • The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 aimed for space exploration to benefit all of humankind, but economic realities and private interests are testing these principles.
  • While commercialization is seen as necessary to fund expensive exploration, it must be accompanied by equity and transparency to avoid repeating past mistakes of domination.
  • The moon is a significant case study, offering resources like water ice and helium-3, but its exploitation raises questions about who profits and who decides.
  • Ambiguities in the Outer Space Treaty regarding private resource extraction have led some countries to enact national laws, potentially causing chaos or conflict.
  • The article proposes treating space as a shared domain, similar to the high seas or Antarctica, emphasizing collective stewardship and global regulation.
  • The 'overview effect' experienced by astronauts, seeing Earth as fragile and shared, offers a hopeful perspective for managing space equitably.

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