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Cassandra Steer

Cassandra Steer

Lecturer, ANU Center for International and Public Law; Mission Specialist, ANU Institute for Space, Australian National University
I am a senior consultant and lecturer, specialising in space law and space policy at the Australian National University College of Law. I have over 13 years’ professional experience in academia and strategic direction of research centres and NGOs. I was an Assistant Professor at the Universiteit van Amsterdam, where I taught and researched comparative criminal law and international criminal law. I moved to Canada in 2015 to become the Executive Director of the McGill Institute for Air and Space Law, and to pursue my research in space security and the applicability of the law of armed conflict to space. I was concurrently Executive Director of Women in International Security-Canada. For a short period before my maternity leave I took up the position of Acting Executive Director of the University of Pennsylvania Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law, where I organized and facilitated a high level national roundtable on space security and space weaponization. I have recently relocated to Australia to continue my specialisation in space law, and to provide legal and policy expertise to research and technology development undertaken under the ANU Institute for Space (InSpace).

Space Science Series

Today’s space race could turn fatal if we don’t agree on new rules

Jun 22, 2026 11:05 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen had an emotional message before he and three colleagues set off for the Moon earlier this year on the Artemis II mission: We go for all humanity. The successful ten-day lunar flyby mission...

Global Geopolitics Series

Anti-satellite weapons: the US has sworn off tests, and Australia should follow suit

Apr 23, 2022 08:11 am UTC| Politics

When United States Vice-President Kamala Harris was at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California earlier this week she said the US would not conduct tests of destructive, direct ascent anti-satellite missiles. This...

SpaceX's historic launch gives Australia's booming space industry more room to fly

Jun 03, 2020 15:00 pm UTC| Technology

At the weekend, Elon Musks commercial giant SpaceX launched two NASA astronauts in a spacecraft named Crew Dragon which, from the inside, looked like a souped-up Tesla. The Falcon 9 rocket launched the spacecraft,...

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Economy

Deutsche Bank Sees Global Capital Shifts Reshaping Long-Term U.S. Dollar Outlook

Structural changes in global capital flows, technological innovation, and geopolitical developments are redefining the long-term outlook for the U.S. dollar, according to a new research note from Deutsche Bank. The bank...

Trump, Canada Reach Gordie Howe Bridge Deal Ahead of July 27 Opening

The $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is set to open on July 27 after the United States and Canada reached a new agreement on toll revenue, ending months of uncertainty...

Gordie Howe Bridge to Open July 27 After U.S.-Canada Reach Toll Revenue Agreement

The long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, is set to officially open on July 27 after the United States and Canada reached a new agreement over toll revenue,...

Fed Reaffirms 2% Inflation Goal, Vows Forceful Action to Anchor Price Expectations

The Federal Reserve reaffirmed its commitment to restoring price stability, saying it is prepared to act forcefully if necessary to keep longer-term inflation expectations anchored around its 2% target. The pledge came in...

Dollar Ends Week Higher as Yen Jumps on Japan Pension Fund Investment Plans

The U.S. dollar traded within a narrow range on Friday and was on track for a modest weekly gain as investors weighed evolving inflation expectations, Federal Reserve policy signals, and renewed geopolitical tensions in...

Politics

Iran's Supreme Leader Vows Revenge as Trump Threatens Massive U.S. Military Response

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowed on Saturday to avenge the death of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, escalating tensions with the United States as President Donald Trump warned that...

Iran Says It Closes Strait of Hormuz After Warning Shot at Vessel

Irans Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) navy announced early Sunday that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice after firing a warning shot at a vessel it claimed was attempting to transit through the strategic...

DOJ Subpoenas New York Times Journalists Over Air Force One Leak Report

The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to appear before a federal grand jury after the newspaper reported on security concerns surrounding President Donald Trumps new Air Force One...

Ann Widdecombe Murder: Police Arrest Second Suspect, Rule Out Terrorism Motive

British police have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of murdering former UK government minister Ann Widdecombe, while investigators said there is currently no evidence linking the case to terrorism or a political...

Ukraine Says Drone Strikes Hit 21 Russian Oil Tankers as Russia Launches Fresh Missile Barrage

Ukraine said its military damaged 21 Russian tankers carrying crude oil and petroleum products during overnight drone strikes in the Sea of Azov, marking one of Kyivs most significant attacks on Russias energy transport...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Apple Sues OpenAI, Former Employees Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former Apple employees, accusing them of misappropriating confidential company information and trade secrets tied to its hardware development efforts. The lawsuit, filed...

SK Hynix Soars 13% in Nasdaq Debut After Record $26.5 Billion IPO

SK Hynix made a strong debut on the Nasdaq on Friday, with its American Depositary Receipt (ADR) shares closing 12.8% higher at $168.01 after completing a record-breaking $26.5 billion U.S. initial public offering (IPO),...

Elon Musk Says Anthropic Leads AI Race as Claude Models Challenge OpenAI

Elon Musk has publicly praised artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, saying the company is obviously the current leader in AI, in a rare acknowledgment of a key rival as competition among top AI developers...

OpenAI Executive Fidji Simo to Step Down Amid Health Challenges Ahead of IPO

OpenAIs head of products and business, Fidji Simo, announced on Thursday that she will step down from her leadership role and transition to a part-time advisory position after experiencing complications from a chronic...

Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong Expected to Meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on AI and Chip Partnership

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is expected to meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in the United States by the end of July as the two technology giants explore deeper cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing and...
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