On November 28, the 'ASPI Masterclass: Space and National Security' will explore space as an increasingly competitive, congested and contested domain.

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The emergence of ‘newSpace’ has seen a growing commercial space sector that has fundamentally challenged - and in many respects, overturned - the traditional role of government-run, taxpayer-funded space programs. It has transformed our ability to access space.

The new space age is qualitatively and quantitively different to the previous era. We are witnessing the rise of commercial ‘mega-constellations’ comprising thousands of small satellites. Launch prices – always a key inhibitor to opening up space – have been dragged down by innovations from the commercial sector, particularly SpaceX. The space domain is more accessible than ever before, with the new space actors, including small and middle powers, as well as the private sector.

Commercial space is having a significant impact on the global space economy, anticipated to grow from US$424bn in 2020 to a more than US$1 trillion sector by 2040, or earlier. A return to the Moon opens the potential for commercial activities there, and there are serious efforts going into the prospect of human activity on Mars. Entire in-space economies offer benefits for Earth, for humanity, for prosperity and security.

With such significant and rapid progress comes challenges. Competitors and malign actors are using space to compete in the diplomatic, economic, information, social and military sectors.

With these fundamental changes in mind, it is imperative that like-minded nations consider how they can best work together, and with industry, to enhance their respective national efforts, build stronger collective capabilities and compete effectively in the space domain.

Speakers include:

• Lt. Gen. Nina M. Armagno, Director of Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Space Force
• Brigadier-General G. Michael Adamson, Commander, 3 Canadian Space Division
• Air Commodore Nicholas Hogan CSC, Director General, Space Capability, Defence Space Command
• Douglas Loverro, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense - Policy, US Department of Defense 
• Janice Starzyk, Vice President, Government Operations, Virgin Orbit
• Jeffrey Becker, President and Principal Analyst, Context LLC; Futures Subject Matter Expert, Joint Concepts Division, Joint Staff J-7 
• Dr Paul Scully-Power AM DSM, Australia’s first astronaut; Special Envoy for Space & Defence, NSW Smart Sensing Network
• James Brown, CEO, Space Industry Association of Australia
• Professor Melissa DeZwart, Professor (Digital Technology, Security & Governance) Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security & Governance, Flinders University 
• Adam Gilmour, Co-founder and CEO, Gilmour Space Technologies
• Dr Namrata Goswami, Co-Author ‘Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space’
• Dr Annie Handmer, Senior Manager Innovation and Policy, HEO Robotics
• Dr Jason Held, CEO, Saber Astronautics
• Kevin Pollpeter, Senior Research Scientist, CNA 
• AVM (Ret’d) Mark Skidmore AM, Chairman, Skykraft
• Carley Scott, Defence Council Victoria Member
• Dr Mark Hilborne, Lecturer, Defence Studies Department and War Studies, Kings College London
• Kaitlyn Johnson, Deputy Director and Fellow, Aerospace Security Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Dr Sandy Tirtey, Director, Global Commercial Launch Services, Rocket Lab
• David Waterhouse, Managing Director, Hypersonix Launch Systems
• Justin Bassi, Executive Director, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
• Bec Shrimpton, Director – The Sydney Dialogue, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
• Dr Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

Additional speakers to be confirmed.