Welcome to the autumn edition of Space Rendezvous!
This Space Rendezvous has the theme space and defence and will take place on Friday, November 14, from 13:00 to 17:00 at
KTH Main Campus in F2
.
Throughout the afternoon, we will explore the vital connections between space technology, security, and research. The programme features speakers and panelists from SNSA (Swedish National Space Agency), Saab, FHS (Swedish Defence University), FOI (Swedish Defence Research Agency), LTU (Luleå University of Technology), and more. The invited speakers represent the leading institutions and companies shaping Sweden’s space and defence landscape.
After the event, you are warmly welcome to continue the conversation at a pub hosted by the PhD Chapter in their facilities at Drottning Kristinas väg 29. Don't miss the chance to have a drink with Christer Fuglesang! 🍻
📡 What: Space Rendezvous Autumn 2025 – Space and Defence
🗓️ When: Friday, 14 November 2025, 13:00–17:00 (13 sharp)
📍 Where: Lecture hall F2, KTH Main Campus (also on
Zoom
)
Sign up to the event here
Programme
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13:00–13:10 – Introduction and welcome
Christer and Bellman, KTH Space Center
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13:10–13:40 – Space safety and dual-use applications
Kristina Pålsson, Swedish National Space Agency (Rymdstyrelsen)
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13:40–14:10 – Space for security and defence from a Saab perspective
Andreas Fredmer, Saab
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14:10–14:30 – Best master thesis: Improving tau decay simulations for detecting tau neutrinos at IceCube
Simon Thor, KTH student
Coffee break 14:30–15:30
After coffee break
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15:30–16:00 – Responsive space: need for redundancy and resilience
Thomas Frisk, Swedish Defence University (FHS)
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16:00–16:30 – Global space trends – a defence and security perspective
Linn Claesson, Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI)
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16:30–17:00 – Space within the Campus Totalförsvar Initiative
René Laufer, LTU (Campus Totalförsvar)
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17:00–17:20 – Panel discussion
All speakers
After the program
Background to the event
Militarization of space has historically been discouraged, and cooperation in space has been the official message. However, a large part of the satellite launches are military. The Outer Space Treaty from 1967 limits military activities in space, prohibiting nuclear weapons among other things, but does not ban military activities in space entirely. The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) of the Reagan era (1984) was intended to render nuclear weapons obsolete, but was never completed. The International Space Station (ISS) launched 1998 allows several space agencies to collaborate peacefully even today, but will go out of service 2031. Satellite navigation systems from several countries allow precision navigation for all of our civilian services. The Starlink satellite constellation promises to make internet connections available worldwide.
The Chinese anti-satellite missile test in 2007 seemed a one-time affair, after the Kessler syndrome was broadly discussed 2009. Although comedy TV series joked about Space Forces, things seemed at peace. However, several countries are now establishing space forces, including Sweden. Starlink and other satellites are used to coordinate military attacks. Due to warzones, GPS jamming is a daily occurrence and affects civilian aviation. Drones are now used frequently in war, and are disturbing operation at civilian airports worldwide.
What can we expect in the future? Will space be further militarized? What capabilities in space situational awareness do we need for Sweden? And what are our agencies (SNSA, FHS, FOI) and aerospace companies (Saab) planning for our future? Come to Space Rendezvous November 14 to learn more about this hot topic.
