The New Space Rush

3 units

This course will introduce students to new activities regarding outer space. New types of spaceships and space hotels are being designed. Vast quantities of natural resources such as gold, platinum, iridium, osmium, helium 3 and water were recently discovered in outer space. These new advances in space exploration, science, technology and architecture can be analyzed through the lens of political science. Across various disciplines, these accomplishments in physics, biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine and computer science, along with the likely economic implications, can be explained by political science concepts, theories and analytical tools. Students from many disciplines can learn more by understanding the big picture of patterned activities relevant to outer space. Newly emerging industries such as space tourism, space mining, commercial space settlements and outer space colonization will be discussed. The class will explore the latest developments in the space sector and the opportunities that they present. This course is designed to allow people from diverse disciplines and backgrounds to develop a broad spectrum of knowledge to develop a better understanding of the rapidly evolving outer space sector.