Space Matters: The Space Governance Podcast

This episode captures a live panel on Space Middle Powers in the Asia Pacific Region, that was part of a workshop hosted by the ACSG back in February 2026, titled “Building Shared Satellite Connectivity in the Asian century”. Japan, Indian and the Philippines all demonstrate strategic leadership in the region, and have identified the role of sovereign space-based capabilities and space cooperation as key technological andpolitical factors in their regional ambitions.

Dr. Cassandra Steer provides a context forthe term “space middle powers.” Panellist Dr. Raji Pillay Rajagalopan explores India’s strategic shift over six decades towards a very clear narrative for the role of space for social, political and economic aims. Dr. Noelle Riza Castillo from the Philippines Space Agency discusses the Philippines leadership in developing an ASEAN space declaration. Issues discussed include:

• The role of Japan, India and the Philippines in space diplomacy.
• Challenges and opportunities in space security and governance.
• The importance of transparency and confidence building measures in space.
• How the Philippines has built strong public-facing communication around why space capabilities matter for disasters, climate and governance.
• India's evolving space strategy and geopolitical ambitions. How India's space program was long driven by technocrats, but that the inclusion of Indian Foreign Secretary on the Space Commission reflects a more explicit political and strategic direction.
• The potential for a regional space agency in ASEAN.
• The need for smaller-scale consensus through bilateral, trilateral, quadrilateral, and networked minilateral groupings as the best path forward for space diplomacy.
• What Australia should do more of with India, Japan and the Philippines?

In this episode, our founder and CEO, Dr Cassandra Steer, speaks with filmmaker and Professor Juan Francisco Salazar from Western Sydney University. We discuss Juan’s cultural research and visits to Antarctica, and consider how his research into the Anthropocene and socio-environmental change has provided perspectives for researching outer space.
We also explore the role of popular culture, the importance of listening to Indigenous perspectives and the role of the social in space governance through “space humanities”. Juan encourages listeners to consider different perspectives and approaches, asking: what are we doing in outer space? Are we ready for space?

We discuss human relationships with the environment, as well as the parallels and divergences between Antarctica and outer space, including questions of commercialisation and resource extraction. We consider different normative and governance models, including reflections on Antarctica’s unique legal regime.

 This podcast forms part of ACSG’s leadership in drawing on expertise across the humanities to advocate for and shape responsible space governance in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Further information and listening

• Juan’s documentary “Cosmographies”: https://cosmographies.info/
• Framing the Futures of Australia in Space: Insights from Key Stakeholders: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361608072_FRAMING_THE_FUTURES_OF_AUSTRALIA_IN_SPACE_Insights_from_Key_Stakeholders
• The Routledge Handbook of Social Studies of Outer Space: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003280507/routledge-handbook-social-studies-outer-space-juan-francisco-salazar-alice-gorman

In this episode, Andre Kwok, Research Assistant at Australasian Centre for Space Governance (ACSG), speaks with Dr Kate Kitagawa, Professor of Practice of Space Education at La Trobe University and former Director of the Space Education Office at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Kate was an invited expert at a workshop ACSG held earlier in 2026 on space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Kate provides reflections from her time at JAXA and offers insights into the Australia-Japan relationship. We learn about Kate’s background as a historian and Japanese diplomat, and hear her thoughts on the role of public education and consider a regional approach to space in the Asia-Pacific. We also discuss some of the key opportunities and questions facing Australia in its space relationships, both bilaterally and at a broader regional level, with this episode also looking at Southeast Asia.This episode forms part of ACSG’s focus on space in the Asia-Pacific region. We also reflect on how space intersects with other issues Australia is engaged with across the region.

Further information and listening:

- Listen to an earlier podcast episode featuring our founder and CEO, Dr Cassandra Steer, presenting a keynote at the workshop earlier this year. The episode provides a framing of the regional focus and argues the case for Australian regional space cooperation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bAMQ9MvMrPsq5NmV1geBF?si=6vN737rYQPW_Sub3mkyNPQ

- Another podcast episode exploring why the Asia-Pacific region matters to space cooperation, the value of regional perspectives and cross-cultural skills, and how “Asian literacy” connects with Australia’s international space relationships: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kXy6L82lrPJNBxOHAZuqH?si=hLfBvWpFQxatpiZMfxFB6g

- Australia’s Maturing Space Capabilities in a National and Regional Context: https://www.nbr.org/publication/asias-space-ambitions-driving-the-next-chapter-in-global-space-competition/

This is part two of a collection of conversations recorded during our recent WRegSAT workshop (Workshops on the Regulation of Space Activities and Technologies)
This episodes build on the mutual and cross-disciplinary learning recorded during an April workshop that brought together leading space experts. We speak with experts in space and military law, technology ethics, astrophysics, and Aboriginal perspectives on Sky Country. These discussions highlight WRegSAT’s strength in bringing together interdisciplinary thinking in finding solutions for space regulation. We speak with Dr Matthew Stubbs, Dr Rebecca Allen, Dr Evie Kendal and Amos Taylor.

The workshop saw detailed and high-level discussions spanning space regulations together with broader space governance issues among participants. WRegSAT representatives are consolidating these insights into a Regulatory Options Paper. That work will continue through two further workshops later this year.

For more information about WRegSAT, please visit our website at https://www.spacegovcentre.org/wregsat.

This is part one of a two-part podcast series on WRegSAT Series II.

This podcast features interviews recorded during an April workshop that brought together Australian space experts, featuring Lesley Sutton, Luke Standen, Zamara Rodriguez, Dr Joel Lisk, Dr Melissa De Zwart, Dr Matthew Stubbs, Dr Rebecca Leshinsky, Dr Evie Kendal and Amos Taylor. Through a partnership with Gilbert + Tobin, participants explored gaps in Australia’s space regulatory framework and assessed potential approaches against seven key values:

1. Maa Bullarbu and custodial responsibility for the next seven generations
2. Promoting safe and sustainable practices
3. Encouraging innovation and competitiveness
4. Ensuring national security
5. Including diverse perspectives
6. Meeting international obligations
7. Strengthening regulatory effectiveness and resilience
   

The workshop saw detailed and high-level discussions spanning space regulations together with broader space governance issues among participants. WRegSAT representatives are consolidating these insights into a Regulatory Options Paper. That work will continue through two further workshops in July and November.

Stay tuned for part two of this series. For more information about WRegSAT, please visit our website at https://www.spacegovcentre.org/wregsat.

Welcome to Season Three of Space Matters: The Space Governance Podcast.

This episode serves as a framing discussion for the season and features the opening keynote from founder and CEO of the ACSG, Dr Cassandra Steer, delivered at our expert workshop on space infrastructure in the Asian Century. The workshop, hosted by the ACSG with support from UNSW Canberra, brought together senior stakeholders from government, industry and academia, including a representative from the Philippines Space Agency, to discuss the future of space cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

Key discussions focused on strengthening regional collaboration, advancing burden-sharing frameworks, addressing evolving security challenges and reflecting on  a changing geopolitical order, including opportunities for Australia’s role in the region. The workshop also considered how these issues intersect with Australia’s regional priorities, including the importance of Asia literacy, and how deeper cooperation can help address national challenges while opening new avenues for engagement across the region.

At a time of increasing strategic competition, these conversations are both timely and necessary. This podcast series builds on ACSG’s commitment to advancing responsible space governance, featuring experts Australian and international experts.
The ACSG thanks Aiden Seaver for his background research for this keynote, together with Mila Spence and Andre Kwok for organising this workshop. 

To learn more about the ACSG, visit our website at https://www.spacegovcentre.org/ and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacegovcentre/

In this episode of Space Matters, we speak with Dr Tristan Moss about the intersection of Australia’s military history and contemporary space policy, tracing how defence considerations have long shaped Australia’s engagement with space. Drawing on historical and policy perspectives, this episodes explores Australia’s approach to developing sovereign space capabilities, recent investments in ground infrastructure and the importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening Australia’s space posture.

The episode also looks at Australia’s space relationships in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting how collaboration with regional partners can enhance stability, support climate resilience, and ensure secure access to important space-derived data. Throughout the discussion, Dr Moss explains the need to mainstream space literacy across government and defence, develop clearer career pathways, and adopt a more integrated, whole-of-government approach to space governance. Dr Tristan Moss reflects that effective leadership, informed policymaking and sustained public engagement are essential to positioning space as a core pillar of Australia’s long-term strategic, environmental and security interests.
Further Listening
An earlier episode where Dr Tristan Moss explaining the significance of space history: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3srOVunSSYsCXqbm9dX3Zm?si=mpiEVBFbRU61maw-zXQUWQ

We speak with Art Cotterell and learn about why space needs to be mainstreamed across government as a core national priority. Looking on Art’s policy paper, Art's discuss how space technologies underpin critical infrastructure and support major policy domains, including climate change, economic reform and national security. Art sets out the value of a national space task force to coordinate whole-of-government action and highlight the growing importance of intergenerational planning. The conversation also examines the role of the Australian Space Agency in advancing space literacy and building public understanding of how space technologies shape everyday life. Art advocates that public engagement is key to securing long-term political support, and that effective policymaking depends on a government workforce equipped to use and interpret space-based data. Ultimately, they argue that space is far more than rockets and astronauts, and that it is the infrastructure guiding Australia’s economic, environmental and strategic future.Further reading:

• Read Art's policy paper: https://acsg.squarespace.com/publications
• Should humans colonise space? We asked 5 experts: https://theconversation.com/should-humans-colonise-space-we-asked-5-experts-267436
• Space Colonies and Human Futures: The Debate Over Our Next Frontier: https://www.2ser.com/stories/space-colonies-and-human-futures-the-debate-over-our-next-frontier

In this podcast episode, we talk about the evolving field of space ethics with Flight Sergeant Amy Hestermann-Crane. Together, we discuss how virtue ethics can guide space policy and governance, helping ensure sustainability, responsibility, and security in the cosmos. Amy reflects on her journey into space ethics, the importance of asking ethical questions in space governance, and why moral reflection is important as Australia expands its role in the global space community.

This episode takes a closer look at how ethics play a role at the intersection of sustainability and security in modern space policy. Amy also discusses why Australia needs a dedicated space ethicist within its national framework and how ethics shapes debates concerning the role of multilateral cooperation in advancing global space governance.

Listen now to learn how ethics play an important role in global space governance.

In this episode of Space Matters, Dr Cassandra Steer, CEO of the Australasian Centre for Space Governance (ACSG), and Andre Kwok, researcher at ACSG, talk about the role of space in the Asia-Pacific region. Together they reflect on the intersection of space law and policy, technology and international relations, highlighting how collaboration and cultural understanding are essential for shaping the future of space governance.

The conversation touches on the shift from national to regional perspectives, the use of Earth observation data in international law, and the growing role of space diplomacy in fostering cooperation across the region.

They also reflect on the Centre’s new identity, Andre’s journey into space law and Asian studies, and the importance of cultural understanding and language in the Asia-Pacific. Other themes include space law’s role in conflict and security, the potential of space diplomacy to build regional ties and how space can help address shared challenges such as strengthen criminal investigations and climate change response.
For more reading:

• Securing Australia Through Space: Shared Interests in the Indo-Pacific Region: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/_files/ugd/ed2eed_11423f62a20d43eabb6f98a021f4058d.pdf
• Australia’s Maturing Space Capabilities in a National and Regional Context: https://www.nbr.org/publication/asias-space-ambitions-driving-the-next-chapter-in-global-space-competition/
• Working together in space can enhance worldly ties between Australia and Japan: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/working-together-space-can-enhance-worldly-ties-between-australia-japan