Vinicius Geudes de Oliveira, a Brazilian lawyer and PhD candidate, explores the legal and cybersecurity challenges facing space infrastructure, particularly in Australia. He explains why cyberattacks are more cost-effective than kinetic warfare and argues for national space policy to protect critical systems.

Vinicius shares how his background in international law led him to pursue a PhD focused on the cybersecurity of Australia’s space infrastructure. He explains that most cyberattacks remain below the threshold of armed conflict but can be just as disruptive, especially in the strategically important space sector. With Australia’s space industry still developing its legal and policy frameworks, he talks about the need for a national space policy and space-specific cybersecurity measures. Vinicius also discusses the importance of international cooperation and advocates for practical tools, like a cybersecurity toolkit, to help space operators better understand and manage evolving threats.

Further Reading

• Vinicius’s policy paper on space cybersecurity: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/_files/ugd/ed2eed_fa255cc6d89b4ea888578905da238f64.pdf
• Other publications from the ACSG policy workshop series: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/our-research
• Vinicius’s latest book chapter titled “Brazilian Space Law: A Critical Analysis of Brazil’s Space Activities Act”: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-85680-8_4

Welcome to Season Two of the ACSG Podcast. This season kicks off with a mini-series featuring conversations with the authors of eight policy papers developed from our 2024 workshop “Securing Australia Through Space".
In this first episode, we speak with two of Australia’s leading space law academics, Dr Stacey Henderson and Dr Joel Lisk from Flinders University. together they discuss the importance of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act to the space sector.
We discuss:

• The role of positioning, navigation, and timing technologies in civilian and military infrastructure
• Australia’s dependence on foreign satellite systems and the impacts on sovereignty and resilience
• Legal and regulatory considerations under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act
• Stacey and Joel’s legal careers and university experience
• Why space infrastructure should be treated as critical infrastructure requiring proactive policy attention

• Access all eight policy papers from the workshop: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/our-research
• Read the specific paper discussed in this episode: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/_files/ugd/ed2eed_bb310e7204ef49efafb1533b0012c11c.pdf
• Learn more about ACSG and our work: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/

Links and Resources:This episode is a must listen for researchers and professionals across government, research, and industry working on national security, infrastructure resilience and space governance.

Welcome to the season finale of Space Matters! ACSG Chair Dr. Cassandra Steer sits down with Dr. Alexander Deejay, ACSG Executive Director, to rethink what makes space “cool”—and why that might not be the best way to understand its true importance.

While rockets, astronauts, and sci-fi dominate pop culture, the reality of space activity is far more mundane—and essential. Satellites support weather forecasts, GPS navigation, and disaster response, making space-based infrastructure a central part of modern life.

Together, they explore how Hollywood and NASA have shaped public perceptions, how the myth of space as a frontier affects policy, and whether technological utopianism taint space’s true value. They also discuss how framing space as critical infrastructure could encourage more sustainable public investment.

Thank you for joining us throughout Season One. Stay tuned for more in our next season.

For more reading:

• Australian Attitudes on Space by Gender Report: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/_files/ugd/ed2eed_c26a86d9a1be4641a54aa32cca334d54.pdf
• Looking Up from Down Under: Australian Attitudes to National Space Activities: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/_files/ugd/ed2eed_d028d1b713fe425d98f0ecb0064c1329.pdf
• Securing Australia Through Space" policy paper series: https://www.spacegovcentre.org/our-research