The New Space Race: Geopolitics, Security, and the Future Beyond Earth

Event Overview

A new era of space competition is underway. Governments and private companies alike are investing in ambitious missions, advanced technologies, and long-term strategies that could reshape the global balance of power. Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta for a conversation with Georgia Tech professor Thomas González Roberts to explore the geopolitical, economic, and security dimensions of the new space race. 

Run of Show

• 6:00 PM Registration & Networking  

• 6:10 PM Welcome Remarks, Rickey Bevington,  President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta

• 6:15 PM Optional Introductory Remarks, Thomas González Roberts, Assistant Professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech

• 6:25 PM Moderated fireside dialogue

• 7:00 PM Audience Q&A 

• 7:20 Closing Remarks, Rickey Bevington  

• 7:25–8:00 PM Networking & Adjourn

Key Themes

• Competition among major powers is accelerating, particularly as the United States and China expand their ambitions in space. 

• Private companies are transforming access to space, raising new questions about governance, regulation, and public accountability. 

• International institutions and legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace with rapidly advancing space technologies. 

• The growing military and strategic importance of space has significant implications for global stability and conflict prevention. 

• The State of Georgia is emerging as a hub for aerospace innovation and research, making these issues increasingly relevant to local audiences. 

• Public understanding of space governance is essential as decisions made today will influence scientific discovery, economic opportunity, and international cooperation for decades to come. 

Thomas González Roberts is an Assistant Professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech, where he directs the Engineering Space Policy Laboratory. His research focuses on space governance, international security, satellite operations, and the development of norms for responsible behavior in space. He also serves as Academic in Residence at the International Telecommunication Union, a Fellow at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, and an Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. His work has been recognized by MIT, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and Forbes' 30 Under 30 Science list. 

Rickey Bevington is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and nationally respected voice on global affairs, civic leadership, and the future of media. She serves as President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta and Executive in Residence at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, bringing decades of storytelling expertise and public engagement leadership to global dialogue. Previously, she spent more than 20 years as a television and radio journalist with outlets including Georgia Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS NewsHour, and Marketplace, and delivered a widely recognized TEDx talk on media literacy and civic responsibility. An internationally engaged leader, Bevington has participated in elite leadership programs and fellowships across Europe and Asia and is a sought-after moderator who has interviewed figures ranging from President Jimmy Carter to General David Petraeus. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Chair of the Agnes Scott College Board of Visitors, and a magna cum laude graduate of Barnard College