Author: Keti Korkiya (Center on National Security)
The 2025 conference, “Security in Outer Space: Woomera Manual, Military Operations, & Emerging Issues,” convened experts from legal, technical, military, and commercial sectors to examine the evolving challenges at the intersection of international law, strategic stability, and military activities in outer space. Held under the Chatham House Rule, with two keynotes delivered on-the-record, the event provided a timely forum for dialogue on the operationalization of legal norms, the integration of commercial actors into national security ecosystems, and the risks and responsibilities associated with emerging technologies.
The discussions were framed around the publication of the Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Operations (2024), a major milestone in efforts to clarify how existing legal frameworks apply to military space activities. Panelists and presenters engaged with pressing questions surrounding dual-use and dual-purpose space systems, space-based missile defense, mega-constellations, and public-private cooperation, all within the context of rising geopolitical tensions and the shifting dynamics of great power competition.
Across panels and presentations, speakers emphasized the need to balance innovation with responsibility, competition with cooperation, and ambition with legal and ethical restraint. While views diverged on specific proposals, there was broad consensus on the importance of building a secure, sustainable, and inclusive space environment — one grounded in transparency, shared norms and regulations, and continued international engagement.
This report captures key themes and insights from the conference, summarizing the contributions of each panel and presentation while preserving the spirit of informed and constructive debate that characterized the event.
