“From no man’s land to land of conquest”: with these words Roberto Battiston, professor of experimental physics at the University of Trento and president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) from 2014 to 2018, summarized the stages of exploration of space globally. From Sputnik, the first satellite to be sent into orbit, to today in the debate between defense, exploitation of resources and geopolitics. “Space economy: risks and opportunities?” – began Battiston, outlining the growing trajectory of investments in the sector, also thanks to partnerships with private individuals, which is estimated at one trillion dollars in 2040.
“Elon Musk alone with Starlink has invested in the production of 27 thousand satellites – he said – in order to achieve an ambitious goal: telecommunications via cell phones thanks to the use of satellite systems.” The former president of ASI also highlighted the potential risks of the Space economy linked to the stability of the international relations system: “space is much more fragile than sea and land and is also a privileged place for military challenges. I see a potential risk in the element of warfare that is growing exponentially in the world.”
Battiston also highlighted the lack of fossil materials on Earth, the extraction of which is increasingly expensive and polluting: “In the future, wars will not be waged for solar energy, which is unlimited, but for mineral resources. In space there are infinite resources and to reach them requires the use not of humans but of the combination of “robotics and AI”. We need virtuous cooperation between the most industrialized countries to extend these potential services and opportunities to all of humanity.” Finally Battiston drew attention to the EU’s delays – regarding investments in the space economy – both in the lack of medium-long term planning and in investment capacity: “Europe is 2 zeros short of the USA and China. Space requires intensive capital and private intervention is needed to stimulate the economy, following the United States model.”
Paola Severino, professor of criminal law and president of the School of Law (Luiss Guido Carli University) and member of the Technical Scientific Committee of the National Cyber Security Agency, also participated in the panel and declared that from the point of view legal, constant updating is required in this sector. “No State can be the owner of anything in space; peaceful use of space; protection of those sent into space; protection of the environment; the principle of responsibility and registration of satellites” stated the jurist.
Severino also spoke about the risks of this economic challenge identifiable in incorrect competitiveness, in the use of spy satellites (except if used for defense purposes) and added: “The exploitation of raw materials on Mars and Jupiter, the richest of rare materials, will have an estimated value of 700 billion billion dollars. We need cybersecurity and we need to legislate on the matter: treaties are a powerful bulwark in the world to exclude conflicts.”
Severino highlighted the dangers and potential of the use of AI: “the potential can be seen in the use of AI in the prevention of satellite collisions or in the removal of waste and its transport to Earth. AI will also be able to replace us for repairs in order to avoid risks for humans. The dangers lie in the use of AI for warfare. In this, Europe has led the way by legislating on the matter with the AI Act.” Finally, Severino raised the problem of governance and the loss of competitiveness in Europe. “Italy is the largest manufacturer of missile components for the conquest of space, but planning and cooperation between EU member states is needed, otherwise we will be overtaken by other world powers”. (AGI) sdb