When we think of space, we think of adventure, technological advancement, discovery, and overall positive things but fail to consider crimes inevitability will take place in outer space. Yarin Eski (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and Iris van Sintemaartensdijk (Universiteit Twente) take the first step in understanding space crime by using virtual reality (VR). With VR any scenario can be created and experienced as if it was real-life by those putting on a VR-headset. Within this project, VR is used to have people experience a spaceship and a criminal act that takes place on said spaceship. If people can successfully be (virtually) transported into outer space and experience the scenario as plausible and life-like, these VR-scenarios can act as a conversation starter to talk about crimes in space and reveal how we need to think about this topic sooner rather than later.

This project is the first in a new line of research on an exciting unexplored topic within crime and criminology. Understanding how crimes can take place in outer space and how people respond to them will put us front and centre of an emerging field.

From lunar missions and commercial spaceflight to critical satellite infrastructure and future Mars exploration, we are expanding beyond Earth and we will take our challenges of crime, security, governance, and justice in outer space with us. We need to understand and address these risks, now.

Iris van Sintemaartensdijk and Yarin Eski co-direct the new interdisciplinary VU Amsterdam and University of Twente VU-UT Alliance/Creating Secure Societies Space Crime & Policing Masterclass, developed in collaboration with Iris van Sintemaartensdijk through the Alliance VU-UT/Creating Secure Societies. In March 2027 at VU and UT, we bring together expertise from criminology, policing, governance, socio-legal studies, psychology, and security studies.

Designed for professionals in the space sector, government, law enforcement, defence, international organisations, cybersecurity, and academia, as well as advanced students, the masterclass equips participants with the knowledge and tools to leanr about one of the fastest-evolving security and justice domains of our time. So, join an international and interdisciplinary cohort committed to shaping a safe, secure, and just future beyond Earth.