14 May 2025/PSSI

The Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI) will host a public guest lecture entitled “Nuclear Fears in Orbit: Governing Space Security in a Time of Rising Tensions”

 

The lecture will feature Jessica West, PhD, Senior Researcher at Project Ploughshares, a Canadian research institute focusing on disarmament efforts and international security. In her work she interacts regularly with key United Nations bodies tasked with space security and space safety issues. Related research interests include approaches to peace and disarmament rooted in humanitarian protection and the impact of new technologies on space security such as cyber connectivity and artificial intelligence.

Jessica holds a PhD in global governance from the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She currently holds roles as a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and a Research Fellow at the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement. 

As fears of nuclear weapons in space resurface, fueled by NATO’s warnings about potential Russian actions and the unexplained tumbling of a Russian satellite with possible nuclear implications, this lecture examines the realities, implications, and misunderstandings. Dr. West will explore what we actually know, decipher the signals being sent, and assess the status of multilateral governance efforts – ranging from the UN Security Council to the Open-Ended Working Group on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space – amid intensifying geopolitical tensions. What does sustainable security in orbit look like, and how close are we to crossing a critical line?