Ep. 010 Space Is Not Cool | with Aleks Deejay
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