Reimagining Europe’s space futures beyond technology

Space is often discussed as if its future were already mapped out: more satellites, more launchers, greater competition, higher performance. Yet this framing leaves little room to question how these futures are imagined. 

During the screening session Imagining Outer Space Futures, organised by the EU Policy Lab in collaboration with designer Dr Joseph Popper at PolyFutures, we explored one central question: how is the future of space imagined in the first place? 

Through a curated programme of short films followed by an open discussion, the session shifted attention away from technological development alone and towards the cultural, visual and narrative dimensions that shape space activity long before policies or investments take form.  

A central idea emerged: imaginaries are not peripheral to the space sector. They are foundational to it. 

Space has always been constructed through stories. Early cinema imagined lunar travel decades before it became technically feasible. Today, science fiction continues to influence how entrepreneurs, institutions, and governments frame expansion, progress, and humanity’s future beyond Earth. Many of the visions driving today’s space ecosystem are rooted in narratives that predate today’s geopolitical realities. 

This matters because imaginaries are never neutral.  

They influence which futures appear desirable, realistic, or inevitable, while rendering others less visible or even unthinkable. In doing so, they shape strategic priorities, guide investments, and frame public expectations. 

One of the short films discussed during the session highlighted how territories associated with space infrastructure have often been represented as empty, distant, or readily available. These representations are not merely symbolic. They risk reproducing older political logics linked to extraction, appropriation, and asymmetrical power relations.  

At a moment when space is becoming a major strategic domain for Europe, these questions deserve greater attention.  

How it was set up

The session combined multiple formats: a contextual introduction and presentation of Joseph Popper’s work, a 30-minute screening of six short films (you can watch most of them here https://josephpopper.net/), and an extended discussion with participants. While the diversity of films provided a rich overview, their number made it challenging at times to recall specific details. However, this also encouraged participants to engage with broader themes and shared impressions. 

Importantly, the discussion evolved over time. Initial exchanges appeared diffuse but gained clarity and depth once participants had experienced the films. The combination of foresight, artistic practice and design proved particularly effective in opening new perspectives. Participants were invited to reflect not only on outer space, but also on Earth: what we value, what we wish to preserve. 

What participants said 

Audience reactions captured the emotional and conceptual range of the session. Phrases such as “cosmic horror”, “old futures”, and “extreme loneliness” pointed to underlying tensions in how space is imagined. Others emphasised interconnectedness “we are one crew” while questioning whether a distinct European vision is needed in such a shared domain. 

A recurring idea was that developments in space inevitably reflect back on Earth: what happens in orbit carries “blueprints” for terrestrial futures. At the same time, participants questioned whether a truly collective image of the future exists at all.  

The session highlighted the value of film as a method for policy engagement. Films can act as powerful conversation starters, enabling discussions that operate simultaneously on emotional and analytical levels. They make visible what often remains implicit, opening space for reflection that traditional policy formats may not easily facilitate. 

More broadly, the discussion revealed a strong appetite for interdisciplinary dialogue. Participants moved fluidly between cinema, geopolitics, industrial strategy and foresight, suggesting that such hybrid formats can help bridge otherwise fragmented communities.  

Foresight in the European space sector already exists across institutions, agencies, research centres, and industry. Yet these efforts often remain fragmented and insufficiently connected. Similar questions are explored in parallel, sometimes without visibility across communities or disciplines. Perhaps the challenge is therefore not only to produce more foresight, but to create stronger bridges between existing initiatives, expertise, and actors across Europe. 

One striking realisation was how little visibility space activities still have among citizens, despite their growing importance. At the same time, the session underscored that “space” is not a singular concept: it is understood in multiple ways, shaped by different experiences, disciplines and imaginaries. This plurality can serve as a productive starting point for dialogue. 

PolyFutures created a valuable space for this type of exchange. In a context where instability is becoming structural rather than exceptional, such conversations appear increasingly necessary. 

The future of space will not be shaped by technology alone. It will also be shaped by the stories, assumptions, and imaginaries that continue to define what space is believed to be and what it could become.