As technological progress fails to be matched by social progress, technology itself can be as much a tool for advancing human flourishing as it can be a source of tyranny, misuse by the few, or even a civilisational catastrophe. The use of high-power lasers in space falls within this category, as they can offer great potential for addressing space debris, space exploration, colonisation, or planetary defence while carrying the risk of being hijacked as anti-satellite weapons and tools of war. This chapter responds to this dynamic by unpacking the security, legitimacy, and practical aspects of global governance of the peaceful use of lasers in space (PULS). As a response to enable their great potential in a sustainable and non-conflicting manner, it puts forward three paths for addressing these challenges by big science collaborations. This includes (a) creating a networked reality beyond traditional dynamics of national sovereignty through large technical systems, (b) offering context-based legitimacy trade-offs and trade-ins for globally sustainable and acceptable governance, and (c) introducing a multi-stakeholder approach as a response to the complexity and multipolarity of the contemporary space environment.
Peaceful Use of Lasers in Space: Challenges and Pathways Forward
Spa. Soc.
23.04.2022
24 pages
Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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