POL106 Week 5 - Space, Surveillance, and Democracy

Lim, Gabrielle, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, and Marc Calabretta. 2025. “A Match Made in the Heavens: The Surveillance State and the ‘New Space’ Economy | TechPolicy.Press.” Tech Policy Press, June 18. 17 https://techpolicy.press/a-match-made-in-the-heavens-the-surveillance-state-andthe-new-space-economy. ○ Launius, Roger D. 2014. “Space Technology and the Rise of the US Surveillance State.” In The Surveillance Imperative: Geosciences during the Cold War and Beyond, edited by Simone Turchetti and Peder Roberts. Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137438744_8. Gabrielle Lim, Guest Lecturer

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Dual-Use Technology

Technologies designed for both civilian and military applications. Example: Satellites used for environmental monitoring can also be repurposed for surveillance or military purposes. Why it matters: Raises concerns about the militarization of space and the potential for increased surveillance.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Private-Public Partnerships

Collaborations between private companies and government agencies. Example: SpaceX's contracts with NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. Why it matters: Blurs the lines between commercial enterprise and state control, leading to potential conflicts of interest.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Space Militarization

The use of space for military purposes, including surveillance and defense systems. Example: The development of space-based missile defense systems. Why it matters: Potentially escalates global tensions and leads to an arms race in space.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Surveillance Infrastructure

Systems and technologies used to monitor and collect data on individuals or groups. Example: Global positioning systems (GPS) and satellite imagery used for tracking movements. Why it matters: Raises privacy concerns and the potential for misuse by authoritarian regimes.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Data Privacy Concerns

Issues related to the collection, storage, and use of personal data. Example: Unauthorized access to satellite data revealing personal locations. Why it matters: Threatens individual freedoms and can lead to discriminatory practices.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Corporate Accountability

The responsibility of companies to act ethically and be transparent in their operations. Example: Lack of transparency in government contracts awarded to private space companies. Why it matters: Ensures that private entities do not exploit public resources for profit without oversight.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Democratic Oversight

The process by which elected officials and institutions monitor and regulate activities. Example: Legislative hearings on space policy and defense spending. Why it matters: Maintains checks and balances to prevent abuse of power and ensures accountability.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Ethical Implications

Moral considerations regarding actions and policies. Example: The ethical dilemma of using surveillance technologies to monitor populations. Why it matters: Guides decision-making to align with societal values and human rights.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Global Space Governance

International agreements and regulations governing the use of space. Example: The Outer Space Treaty of 1967. Why it matters: Promotes peaceful use of space and prevents the weaponization of outer space.

Gabrielle Lim, Aidan Kerr, Marlene Terstiege, Marc Calabretta (2025) – Technological Sovereignty

A nation's ability to control and protect its technological infrastructure. Example: Developing indigenous satellite systems to reduce dependence on foreign technologies. Why it matters: Ensures national security and autonomy in technological advancements.

Roger D. Launius (2014) – Cold War Surveillance

The Cold War era marked the mainstreaming of electronic surveillance, particularly through satellite technology, as both the U.S. and the Soviet Union sought technological advantages.

Roger D. Launius (2014) – Presidential Endorsement

President Lyndon B. Johnson emphasized the value of space-based reconnaissance, stating that the knowledge gained from space photography alone justified the program's cost.

Roger D. Launius (2014) – Satellite Reconnaissance Programs

The U.S. developed advanced satellite reconnaissance programs, such as the CORONA project, to gather intelligence during the Cold War.

Roger D. Launius (2014) – Technological Competition

The U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a technological arms race, with both nations striving to develop superior satellite surveillance capabilities.

Roger D. Launius (2014) – Intelligence Gathering

Satellite reconnaissance provided the U.S. with critical intelligence on Soviet activities, enhancing national security during the Cold War.

Roger D. Launius (2014) – Policy Implications

The development and deployment of satellite surveillance technologies influenced U.S. defense and foreign policies during the Cold War.

Roger D. Launius (2014) – Ethical Considerations

The use of satellite surveillance raised ethical questions regarding privacy and the extent of governmental oversight in citizens' lives.

Roger D. Launius (2014) – Technological Legacy

The advancements in satellite technology during the Cold War laid the groundwork for modern surveillance systems and space exploration initiatives.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Karman Line

The internationally recognized boundary of outer space at 100 km above Earth’s surface. Why it matters: Defines where aerospace regulations, airspace law, and space law begin, affecting governance and commercial activities.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Satellites

Artificial objects placed in orbit around Earth for communication, navigation, climate monitoring, and surveillance. Example: Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, OneWeb. Why it matters: Enables modern life, internet connectivity, GPS, and financial and logistics operations.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Space Debris

Defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments in orbit. Why it matters: Poses collision risks for active satellites and space operations, threatening sustainability of outer space.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Space Sustainability & Self-Regulation

Frameworks like the Space Sustainability Rating and private sector best practices. Why it matters: Promotes responsible behavior in space to prevent debris and ensure long-term usability of orbit.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – International Space Governance

Treaties and agreements regulating outer space, including the Outer Space Treaty, Rescue Agreement, Liability Convention, Registration Convention, and Moon Agreement. Why it matters: Provides a legal framework for peaceful use, safety, and dispute resolution in space.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Domestic Space Governance

National laws, agencies, export controls, Artemis Accords, Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, military procurement. Why it matters: Shapes how states regulate commercial and defense activities in space and secure the “ultimate high ground.”

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Great Power Competition

Competition between major powers (e.g., U.S., China, Russia) for strategic, economic, and technological dominance in space. Why it matters: Drives militarization, investment, and innovation, but also heightens geopolitical tensions.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Space-Cyber Nexus

Symbiotic relationship between outer space and cyberspace: satellites rely on cyberspace for command/control, data processing, and ground stations; cyberspace relies on satellites for global connectivity and PNT. Why it matters: Demonstrates interdependence and vulnerability in both domains.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Monitoring & Verification

Use of satellite imagery for early warning, troop movements, climate change, natural disasters, and evidence for war crimes. Example: Capella Space SAR imagery showing Ukraine armor buildup (Feb 12, 2022). Why it matters: Supports humanitarian, legal, and policy decision-making, but images can be misinterpreted or manipulated.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Surveillance & Privacy

Space-based sensors and AI triangulation track human movement, refugee camps, and border security. Example: Jennifer Lynch, EFF: “This is a giant camera in the sky for any government.” Why it matters: Raises significant privacy, data governance, and human rights concerns; challenges applicability of GDPR to space.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Misinformation & Image Manipulation

Satellite imagery can be doctored, recontextualized, or used to discredit critics. Example: Colin Powell’s UN presentation (2003). Why it matters: Misuse of space data can distort public knowledge, policy, and accountability.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Commercial Space Interests

Private firms expanding mega-constellations and new space ventures, e.g., Starlink, Amazon Kuiper. Why it matters: Offers economic growth and connectivity but introduces security risks, national dependencies, and regulatory challenges.

POL106 Lecture Slides (2025) – Civil Society in Space

Organizations like Secure World Foundation, The Planetary Society, International Aeronautical Federation. Why it matters: Advocates for security, science, and multistakeholder engagement but remain relatively few and fractured compared to cyberspace governance.