#Spacewashing
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divyampersaud.com
"Combining with rainbow-washing: Actors and researchers framing space activities as advancing broader social justice, humanitarianism, human rights, and environmentalism" www.palestinespace.org/spacewashing
Palestine Space Institute - Spacewashing
What is Spacewashing? The Palestine Space Institute (PSI) has conceptualized spacewashing to explicitly describe the practice of nation states, multinational corporations, and other actors using space...
www.palestinespace.org
September 8, 2026 at 11:21 AM
divyampersaud.com
Spacewashing mechanisms slide explicitly lists greenwashing.
palestinespace.bsky.social Palestine Space Institute @palestinespace.bsky.social · Feb 20
Social justice cannot be achieved without confronting power, and challenging the structures that normalize violence and impunity.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SPACEWASHING Social justice requires examining how systems of power, inequality, and violence are produced and sustained. Presenting space as neutral and universally beneficial only serves to limit scrutiny of how it hinders social justice via: militarism and the arms trade surveillance, borders, and occupation colonial and extractive practices This is what PSI has termed “spacewashing.” Spacewashing describes how states and corporations use space activities, space science, and space imaginaries to deflect attention from their role in violence, militarism, and the military-industrial complex. SPACEWASHING MECHANISMS Spacewashing operates across multiple layers, including: Greenwashing: framing military-driven R&D as improving “efficiency” or “sustainability” Diversity washing: celebrating “first women” and “first people of color” while building weapons systems Humanitarian washing: offering “crisis EO data” while supplying militaries and selectively restricting access Normalization of genocide, apartheid, occupation: presenting space as advancing “peace” and “diplomacy” while enabling repression through partnerships with occupying entities These are not separate tactics; they reinforce each other. The entanglement of space with colonial and imperial interests is both material and ideological. SPACEWASHING AND PALESTINE In the context of Palestine, space technologies and research are directly entangled with: surveillance of Palestinian populations targeting of civilian infrastructure border enforcement and population control the normalization of occupation and apartheid All while space agencies, corporations, and research institutions: normalize relations with occupying forces obscure their ties to the arms trade frame participation in space as evidence of moral and technological progress Spacewashing functions as an ideological shield that obscures responsibility and limits accountability. SPACEWASHING ENABLES GENOCIDE As genocide continues in Gaza, space imaginaries are mobilized to: distract from material violence launder corporate and state responsibility rebrand militarism as innovation To challenge this, PSI offers intellectual resistance as a framework for re-politicizing global space discourse in the pursuit of social justice. On this World Day of Social Justice, we must ask: How can space be fundamentally reimagined to confront its entanglement with militarism and empire, and to dismantle spacewashing rather than reproduce it?
September 8, 2026 at 11:10 AM
divyampersaud.com
Palestine Space Institute @palestinespace.bsky.social coined and defined "spacewashing" - the use of space & space exploration to deflect from harm, including genocide, social injustice, AND environmental harm, based on the definition of rainbow-washing from decolonizepalestine - three years ago
September 8, 2026 at 10:59 AM
sunnydarkgreen.bsky.social
entirely correct, our current fascist broligarchs are using #SpaceWashing to distract from their evil deeds here on the only habitable planet.
so has the military industrial complex, for at least fifty years, with Hollywood happy to play along.
August 27, 2026 at 11:37 AM
drspacejunk.bsky.social
269. Spacewashing: the practice of nation states, multinational corporations, and others using space activities, space science, and space imaginaries to deflect attention from their role in violence and militarism.
#TabClosed2026
Palestine Space Institute - Spacewashing
What is Spacewashing? The Palestine Space Institute (PSI) has conceptualized spacewashing to explicitly describe the practice of nation states, multinational corporations, and other actors using space...
www.palestinespace.org
July 3, 2026 at 8:34 AM
divyampersaud.com
“Dual-use” is a lie! About that: www.palestinespace.org/spacewashing

@palestinespace.bsky.social
alsvid.bsky.social [LVL 36]Alsvid Wotansdottir🧿 @alsvid.bsky.social · Apr 29
Of particular note to me is that the V2 Rocket and the Saturn V both use the black-and-white check pattern on their paint job, which makes this link crystal clear.
April 29, 2026 at 12:39 AM
divyampersaud.com
Interested in #SpaceComplicity? Read in order:

Intro to PSI - zenodo.org/records/1718...
PSI - Database - www.palestinespace.org/database
Militarism in space (history/present) - averyreview.com/issues/71/ou...
PSI - Spacewashing - www.palestinespace.org/spacewashing

@palestinespace.bsky.social
April 28, 2026 at 4:57 PM
palestinespace.bsky.social
NASA is arguably the most successful spacewashing campaign ever.

www.palestinespace.org/spacewashing
Palestine Space Institute - Spacewashing
What is Spacewashing? The Palestine Space Institute (PSI) has conceptualized spacewashing to explicitly describe the practice of nation states, multinational corporations, and other actors use space a...
www.palestinespace.org
April 28, 2026 at 4:23 PM
divyampersaud.com
anyway read our latest and take bold, new action to end this genocide www.palestinespace.org/spacewashing
Palestine Space Institute - Spacewashing
What is Spacewashing? The Palestine Space Institute (PSI) has conceptualized spacewashing to explicitly describe the practice of nation states, multinational corporations, and other actors use space a...
www.palestinespace.org
April 23, 2026 at 3:54 PM
divyampersaud.com
This has been a long time in the making. Read our new definition paper on spacewashing.

@palestinespace.bsky.social

www.palestinespace.org/spacewashing
Palestine Space Institute - Spacewashing
What is Spacewashing? The Palestine Space Institute (PSI) has conceptualized spacewashing to explicitly describe the practice of nation states, multinational corporations, and other actors use space a...
www.palestinespace.org
April 17, 2026 at 12:36 PM
rvilelaf.bsky.social
Parece que os EUA tão fazendo um "spacewashing".
April 5, 2026 at 2:01 AM
danimalcannon.com
saw the term “spacewashing” today and I never needed to log off faster
April 2, 2026 at 7:15 PM
uboatheflesh.bsky.social
Space autist here. why are people doing propaganda on behalf of the US government? like especially minorities who they target? stop spacewashing a fascist. we already went to the moon it was empty. just fuckin dust.
April 2, 2026 at 4:10 PM
captiveportal.bsky.social
If you ask me the best thing for the medium term survival of humanity is that this ends in a fireball. I’m coining the phrase spacewashing www.youtube.com/live/Tf_UjBM...
NASA's Artemis II Crew Launches To The Moon (Official Broadcast)
YouTube video by NASA
www.youtube.com
April 1, 2026 at 10:14 PM
palestinespace.bsky.social
Social justice cannot be achieved without confronting power, and challenging the structures that normalize violence and impunity.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SPACEWASHING Social justice requires examining how systems of power, inequality, and violence are produced and sustained. Presenting space as neutral and universally beneficial only serves to limit scrutiny of how it hinders social justice via: militarism and the arms trade surveillance, borders, and occupation colonial and extractive practices This is what PSI has termed “spacewashing.” Spacewashing describes how states and corporations use space activities, space science, and space imaginaries to deflect attention from their role in violence, militarism, and the military-industrial complex. SPACEWASHING MECHANISMS Spacewashing operates across multiple layers, including: Greenwashing: framing military-driven R&D as improving “efficiency” or “sustainability” Diversity washing: celebrating “first women” and “first people of color” while building weapons systems Humanitarian washing: offering “crisis EO data” while supplying militaries and selectively restricting access Normalization of genocide, apartheid, occupation: presenting space as advancing “peace” and “diplomacy” while enabling repression through partnerships with occupying entities These are not separate tactics; they reinforce each other. The entanglement of space with colonial and imperial interests is both material and ideological. SPACEWASHING AND PALESTINE In the context of Palestine, space technologies and research are directly entangled with: surveillance of Palestinian populations targeting of civilian infrastructure border enforcement and population control the normalization of occupation and apartheid All while space agencies, corporations, and research institutions: normalize relations with occupying forces obscure their ties to the arms trade frame participation in space as evidence of moral and technological progress Spacewashing functions as an ideological shield that obscures responsibility and limits accountability. SPACEWASHING ENABLES GENOCIDE As genocide continues in Gaza, space imaginaries are mobilized to: distract from material violence launder corporate and state responsibility rebrand militarism as innovation To challenge this, PSI offers intellectual resistance as a framework for re-politicizing global space discourse in the pursuit of social justice. On this World Day of Social Justice, we must ask: How can space be fundamentally reimagined to confront its entanglement with militarism and empire, and to dismantle spacewashing rather than reproduce it?
February 20, 2026 at 8:54 PM
palestinespace.bsky.social
On this World Day of Social Justice, we name #spacewashing: how space exploration is used to obscure militarism, colonialism, and global oppression, including in Palestine. PSI challenges these narratives through research, advocacy, and our Space+MIC database.
PSI Logo WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE SPACEWASHING 101 How space exploration is used to whitewash militarism, colonialism, apartheid, and genocide
February 20, 2026 at 8:54 PM
jaidamack.bsky.social
"...still juggling three jobs..."

What, so Bezos doesn't even pay his spacewashing cargo? Shocked, I say.
October 4, 2025 at 7:42 PM
palestinespace.bsky.social
If you’re not in Australia or can’t make it in person for whatever reason, you can register to attend virtually at the link below.

us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
September 30, 2025 at 4:02 PM
drspacejunk.bsky.social
The Palestine Space Institute (PSI) and (Un)common Cosmos will host a public counter-event on October 1, 2025, at the University of Sydney, to confront the complicity of the space industry in colonialism, militarism, and genocide.
🧪 #Gaza #IAC25
Palestine Space Institute - IAC2025
IAC Side Counter Event: Spacewashing, Justice, and Genocide in Gaza The Palestine Space Institute (PSI), together with (Un)common Cosmos, will host a public counter-event on October 1, 2025, at the Un...
www.palestinespace.org
September 30, 2025 at 12:25 PM
palestinespace.bsky.social
Updated link: www.palestinespace.org/iac2025
Palestine Space Institute - IAC2025
IAC Side Counter Event: Spacewashing, Justice, and Genocide in Gaza The Palestine Space Institute (PSI), together with (Un)common Cosmos, will host a public counter-event on October 1, 2025, at the Un...
www.palestinespace.org
September 25, 2025 at 8:09 PM
palestinespace.bsky.social
Join PSI and (Un)Common Cosmos at the University of Sydney on October 1st as we confront spacewashing, censorship, militarization, and complicity in genocide.

Register at palestinespace.org/iac2025
Dark blue and teal poster with logos of Palestine Space Institute and (Un)Common Cosmos at the top. Title reads “Event Program.” Timeline lists: 4:00 – Introduction & Acknowledgement: Addressing IAC censorship. 4:10 – “Decolonial Practices in Space” by Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian, Karman Fellow, The Karman Project. 4:25 – “As Above So Below: Genocide & Ecocide” by Juan Francisco Salazar, Professor, Western Sydney University. 4:40 – “Space and the Military Industrial Complex: Spacewashing Genocide at the IAC” by Sahba El-Shawa, Founder, Palestine Space Institute. 5:00 – “Rocket Launches & Weapons Testing: Addressing Australia’s Complicity in Genocide” by Casey Domingo and Harriet Hurley, Co-founders, (Un)Common Cosmos. 5:20 – Panel & Discussion moderated by Giuliana Rotola, Fellowship Coordinator, Palestine Space Institute.
September 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
palestinespace.bsky.social
As the genocide in Gaza continues, the IAC is about to take place under the theme of "Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth." But what does it mean to celebrate "sustainable" space while profiting from the violence of war and colonialism on Earth?

Register at palestinespace.org/iac2025
Dark blue and teal poster with logos of Palestine Space Institute and (Un)Common Cosmos at the top. The bold title reads “IAC Counter Event: Spacewashing, Justice, and Genocide in Gaza.” Subtext explains the event confronts the space industry’s complicity in colonialism, militarism, and genocide, exposing companies profiting from war and colonial violence and creating space for justice-driven visions of exploration. A turquoise starry map outline of Palestine is on the right. A highlighted box states: “This is a call to resist. To hold our industry accountable. To demand a future for space that is rooted in justice rather than violence.” Event details: Wednesday October 1st, 4–6 PM AEST, University of Sydney, with exact location shared upon registration. The bottom notes the event is taking place on the Traditional Lands of the Gadigal people and includes a QR code for info and registration.
September 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
peacewellington.bsky.social
Just what we don't need...https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/new-zealand-air-force-set-up-space-squadron-it-grows-importance-2025-04-30/
#KeepSpaceForPeace #Spacewashing
April 30, 2025 at 9:11 AM