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Space Policy Seminar

3-0-6 units · Graduate

Explores current and historical issues in space policy, highlighting NASA, DOD, and international space agencies. Covers NASA's portfolios in exploration, science, aeronautics, and technology. Discusses US and international space policy. NASA leadership, public private partnerships, and innovation framework are presented. Current and former government and industry leaders provide an "inside the beltway perspective." Study of Congress, the Executive, and government agencies results in weekly policy memos. White papers authored by students provide policy findings and recommendations to accelerate human spaceflight, military space, space technology investments, and space science missions. Intended for graduate students and advanced undergraduates interested in technology policy. Enrollment may be limited.

Spring 2003

Topics

  • What is Policy, why is it important, and why are we in space?
  • Current stakeholders & their missions and roles
  • Space history and policy in the fifties
  • Space history and policy in the sixties
  • Space history and policy in the seventies
  • Space history and policy in the eighties
  • Space history and policy in the nineties
  • International and US Space Policy and Law
  • Special Topic: Globalstar Special Topic: GPS & Galileo
  • Special Topic: Space Launch
  • Student Presentation on Term Project
  • Scenarios for the Future: A Panel Discussion

Readings

  • McDougall, Walter A. The Heavens and the Earth: A Political History of the Space Age . New York: Basic Books, 1985.
    Listed reading
  • Launius, Roger D., and Howard E. McCurdy. Spaceflight and the Myth of Presidential Leadership . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1997.
    Listed reading
  • Stone, Deborah A. Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making . New York : W.W. Norton, 1997.
    Listed reading
  • Spires, David N. Beyond Horizons: A Half Century of Air Force Space Leadership . US Government Printing Office, 1997.
    Listed reading
  • Albert D. Wheelon. “Space policy: How Technology, Economics and Public Policy Intersect” Working paper, MIT Program in Science, Technology and Society, 1988.
    Listed reading
  • Reynolds, Glenn H., and Robert P. Merges. Outer Space: Problems of Law and Policy . Boulder: Westview Press, 1989.
    Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) 3-0-6 units

Sources