Planetary Problems: International Competition and Cooperation in Outer Space

3 units

This course will explore the crucial role of outer space in global affairs and the challenge of confronting potentially dire consequences of an increasingly crowded orbital environment. We will study three key decisions that shaped the American manned space program: Kennedy's Apollo program; Nixon's space shuttle; and Reagan's space station. We will also examine the role of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Most broadly, we will consider the growing importance of space to humanity at large and the attendant challenges that confront the international community.