This course explores the policy cycle – from problem identification, policy formulation and strategy development, through to support for implementation, evaluation, and impact assessment. Students shall be exposed to topics and policies related to space exploration and development, including trends, models, and best practices in a diverse range of policy fields. They will be asked to address pressing challenges facing governments today and prospective issues in future space settlements through an interactive setting simulating the policy development process. 

This course is intended to examine key governance structures and institutions in a comparative perspective. Students shall consider the viewpoints of global governance on Earth to facilitate cooperation, governance of space settlements, and the nature and extent of relations of the governance of Earth via outer-space and vice-versa. Students will explore emerging challenges to existing frameworks, propose models to address the relative roles of public and private systems and the procedural issues in a variety of policy areas such as trade, security, health care, environment, infrastructure, and transportation.