Space Reverse Industry Day: NATO is strengthening its partnership with the space industry

Speaking at NATO’s first Space Reverse Industry Day this week, Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană highlighted the importance of cooperation with commercial space industry to ensure Alliance security. “This is not a job for NATO alone. It is something we must do together,” he said.

Faced with ever-fiercer world competition and fast-evolving technological innovation, Allies have to enhance their defences and resilience in the space domain.

The Space Reverse Industry Day gave space companies the opportunity to share their unique perspectives and help shape NATO’s commercial space agenda.

Discussions ranged from addressing commercial challenges with public sector organisations; exploring initiatives for new multinational space investments; considering space innovation activities through DIANA, to streamlining and enhancing space standardization and interoperability.

Space companies from 21 NATO nations took part in the event, from satellite manufacturer and satellite communications companies to space robotics companies developing in-orbit servicing technologies.

A large majority included start-ups, small- and medium-enterprises and non-traditional defence companies.

NATO’s first space policy was approved in 2019, and space officially became an operational domain that same year.

Eighteen NATO Allies and Sweden will soon launch the “Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space” initiative, which will help increase NATO’s data collection and use from commercial and national satellites and enhance NATO’s intelligence and surveillance picture.

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