SPI Education

THE SPACE POLICY INSTITUTE

The Elliott School of International Affairs
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GRADUATE EDUCATION IN SPACE POLICY
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Photo: ESA

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In addition to offering its own graduate courses, the Space Policy Institute is involved in broader space education efforts both internationally and across the United States.

The Space Policy Institute offers graduate courses on U.S. space policy. The basic course in the fall term, "International Affairs 246, "U.S. Space Policy", is an overview of U.S. space activities in their international context; the spring course, "International Affairs 248, "Issues in U.S. Space Policy", each year focuses on an in-depth examination of one or more current issues in space policy. Other courses, offered under the general course number International Affairs 258, focus on topics such as space and national security and space law. Many students pursue a Master of Arts degree in International Science and Technology Policy with a focus on space issues, under the auspices of GW's Elliott School of International Affairs; space policy also serves as a course and dissertation focus for several Ph.D. candidates in public policy, political science, and history. Full-time study prepares students for exciting career opportunities in the space policy field. Part-time graduate study is also possible, and many of those who enroll in the Institute's courses already are working professionally in the space field. Their exposure to space policy issues provides a broader context for their current work as well as expands their future career choices.

Students affiliated with the Space Policy Institute have the continuing opportunity to participate in the myriad space policy-related activities which take place in Washington. Students have served as research assistants on Institute projects or as interns at The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Office of Management and Budget, NASA's Offices of External Relations, Space Flight Operations Mission Directorate, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, and Science Mission Directorate, the Washington Office of the German Space Agency DLR, the Science and Technology Policy Institute of the RAND Corporation, Futron, DFI International, Satellite Industry Association, and other space-oriented organizations in Washington.

In March 1997, the Lockheed Martin Corporation made a major commitment to the Institute's educational activities in the form of a ten-year commitment of $15,000 per year for student support. The 2008-2009 recipient of Lockheed Martin fellowships is:

· Mariel John, M.A. candidate in International Science and Technology Policy

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Eagle Nebula (courtesy of NASA)

Photo: NASA

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INTERNATIONAL SPACE UNIVERSITY INVOLVEMENT

As an Affiliate of the International Space University (ISU), an international, interdisciplinary, intercultural experiment in advanced space education, the Space Policy Institute has been involved with ISU in many ways. John Logsdon is a former member of the ISU Board of Trustees and Academic Council. Logsdon, Ray Williamson, and Henry Hertzfeld of the Institute staff have all lectured at many of ISU’s summer sessions and to the ISU Master of Space Studies students based at ISU’s permanent campus in Strasbourg, France. The late Todd Hawley, a former GW student, was one of the founders of the International Space University. Over the years, a number of GW students have attended either the ISU summer session or Master's program. The Space Policy Institute has also hosted a number of ISU Master's degree candidates during their placement period.

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Dione, Saturn's Moon

Photo: NASA

For additional information, contact the Space Policy Institute at spi@gwu.edu or (202)994-7292.

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FALL 2008 COURSES

IAFF 246.10 – “U.S. Space Policy”
Thursday, 5:10-7:00pm
Instructor: TBA

This course is an examination of the origins, evolution, current status, and future prospects of U.S. space policies and programs. It will cover the civilian, military, and national security space programs of the U.S. government and the space activities of the U.S. private sector, and the interactions among these four sectors of U.S. space activity. This examination will be cast in the context of the space activities of other countries, and of international cooperation and competition in space. The goal of the course is to give the student an exposure to the policy debates and decisions that have shaped U.S. efforts in space to date, and to the policy issues that must be addressed in order to determine the future goals, content, pace, and organization of U.S. space activities, both public and private

IAFF 258.10 – “Space Law ”
Tuesday, 7:10-9:00pm
Instructor: Peter Hays

As shown by military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo, space capabilities have become increasingly important to the U.S. military in recent years. The many broad interrelationships between space and national security have also been under careful examination recently. The Space Commission Report, for example, found that because U.S. military and economic security has become so dependent on undefended space assets, the nation could face a “space Pearl Harbor.” Others argue that the United States should act to establish space control, defined as U.S. ability to access and use space in its interests and to deny such access to U.S. adversaries. In addition, there is a growing debate over the wisdom and feasibility of stationing force application systems – “space weapons” – in orbit. This course will examine these and other issues associated with U.S. strategy, policy, and organization for the national security uses of space.