In the Shadows of the New Space Economy
Abstract
Space agencies and private companies around the world are taking various measures to tap into the new space economy. In Sweden, this is reflected in the construction of a spaceport for launching small satellites into Earth orbit. While these endeavors are sometimes justified by the potential of space infrastructure to address climate change, the Swedish case also highlights how space exploration, commercialization, and militarization can perpetuate colonial legacies. The Swedish rocket launch site and its impact area overlap with the reindeer herding territories of Indigenous communities whose members actively contest the initiative.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Space exploration and regulation
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Current History
- Volume
- 125
- Issue
- 867
- Pages
- 23–28
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN