Friday essay: space was once a place of wonder – now it’s being bought and sold by powerful men

Key points

• The author reflects on their experiences observing the Milky Way in remote Australia, contrasting the wonder of space with its increasing commercialisation and militarisation.
• The space sector is now dominated by a small group of powerful men, leading to concerns about the future of space exploration and its implications for humanity.
• The author argues that space should be a global commons, but it is increasingly becoming a battleground for power and wealth, with significant implications for all of humanity.