## 1 Introduction  
According to the OECD definition, \"The Space Economy is the full range of activities and the use of resources that create and provide value and benefits to human beings in the course of exploring, understanding, managing and utilising space. Hence, it includes all public and private actors involved in developing, providing and using space-related products\" [1] (p. 20). However, there are differing interpretations of which activities to include in the space economy, and therefore different estimations of its value. Roughly speaking, it could be estimated at between 300 and 400 billion dollars [2; 3; 4]. There were only 36 countries with GDP exceeding 400 billion dollars and 154 countries with GDP smaller than that number [5]. In the last few years, the space economy has drawn unprecedented levels of public, private, and media attention, reflecting both commercial potential and renewed geopolitical interest in exploring and exploiting outer space. In 2023, the number of active satellites (9115) was 10 times the analogous number before the first start of SpaceX's rocket (namely 912 in 2007) [6]. The space economy is projected to grow substantially, with estimates ranging between USD 1 trillion and USD 3 trillion by 2040 [7]. However, some authors warn of a \"space hype bubble\" and tone down expectations [8]. Here, we follow the Lionnet's classification of segments of space economy, namely upstream, midstream, and downstream [2] (Figure 1). A confluence of factors is driving space economy growth. On one hand, the emergence of new business models--collectively called \"New Space\"--has lowered the cost of accessing orbit and shortened the development cycle for space hardware. High-profile ventures led by [PERSON]'s SpaceX, [PERSON]'s Blue Origin, and [PERSON]'s Virgin Galactic, along with hundreds of small and medium firms, exemplify the commercialization of launch services, satellite constellations, and the creation of suborbital tourism. On the other hand, the resumption of space rivalry among global superpowers has started large-scale, state-driven initiatives, sometimes termed the \"New Space Race\". Space exploration and exploitation were sparked during the Cold War. In this way, the first Space Race became a flywheel for crucial spillovers and externalities for the rest of the economy. Solutions for communicating find their way into wider markets. GPS--originally  
Figure 1: Space economy according to [PERSON]’s classification. Source: own based on [2] (pp. 2–7). military--revolutionized navigation; miniaturized electronics developed for space use are penetrating consumer devices; composites are improving vehicles and structures; and solar panels, a technology developed to power satellites, have proliferated as one of the key sources of green energy. Recent geopolitical tensions have accelerated investments in the space economy. While these developments open new economic possibilities, they also pose pressing challenges such as congestion in orbits, space debris, as well as the risk of expanding conflicts into outer space. Space is often seen as the domain of rocket scientists and engineers. Yet, following the well-known _bon mot_ of [PERSON], French Prime Minister during World War I, \"war is too serious a matter to leave to soldiers\" [9], one could say that space is too vital to be left solely to those specialists. The far-reaching consequences of recent substantial developments in the space economy demand insights from social scientists, broadening the conversation to include economic and social aspects. After all, space is about the direction we choose as societies as we push beyond Earth's horizon. As [PERSON] aptly put it, \"the Global Space Age was not the result of some inevitable force of technological progress, rational scientific quests, or satisfying innocent curiosity. Rather, it was the result of successive choices made by people in the chaotic universe of politics, navigating conflict, competition, and self-interest\" [10] (p. 353).