April 30, 2026 | 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM | Lecture Hall 3, University Main Building (Regina-Pacis-Weg 1, 53113 Bonn)

Space-based infrastructure influences human life in many ways. Communication, navigation, and banking are no longer conceivable without satellites, and the trend points in a clear direction: more of the same. Whether it’s satellite internet or the vision of data centers in orbit, major technology corporations are building out orbital infrastructure and hoping for massive profits. Space infrastructure is no longer a state domain but is increasingly being taken over by commercial actors. This trend will continue in the future.

This event examines the role of private actors in key space infrastructures and the resulting forms of structural power. The focus is on companies that, through satellite constellations, launch capabilities, and data infrastructures, are not only gaining economic clout but also creating new political and social dependencies. We will discuss how private space infrastructure is becoming a resource for power politics, what consequences this has for state maneuverability, and what challenges this poses for global governance and the international order.

The event is organized by the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) and the student group ASTRA.