Too Soon to Tell? Seven Signals in Space Governance that are Quietly Defining What Happens Next

HELEN RANKIN 

2026.79.0174

DOI https://doi.org/10.59332/jbis-079-05-0174

This paper explores signals in space governance. Signals are early markers (behaviours and interpretations) that indicate where current choices may lead. A deeper value lies in what they reveal about agency, power and responsible space development. Early research by economist Molly Macauley is paired with contemporary voices to revisit and extend current governance challenges. Failure to act is treated as comparable to explicit policy and a new term “astrocide” is defined and used as an example of governance through negligence. The “space sustainability paradox” and “Doughnut Economics” are also considered as different ways of understanding how pressures form and how responsibility is distributed. The evolution of space governance is outlined through four eras, with the current era labelled as “polycentric” to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary governance. The seven signals discussed here illustrate how emerging patterns can be read within today’s plural governance system. They do not point to a single outcome or propose a definitive approach. Instead they show how observations drawn from economics, law, policy and sustainability can offer insight into the directions governance may take. Signals do not remove uncertainty, but they make it easier to see which decisions matter and why.

Keywords: Space Governance, Molly Macauley, Space Sustainability Paradox, Doughnut Economics, Astrocide.