Academics

These include the first-ever image of a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope, which confirmed key predictions of Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed stunning images of distant galaxies and star-forming regions, offering unprecedented insights into the early universe. Continued in situ exploration of Mars and the telescope-based confirmation of thousands of new exoplanets has fueled the search for extraterrestrial life, while medical innovations have made it safer for humans to venture beyond Earth.

Recent years have also ushered in a new era of competition and collaboration in space that is reshaping global affairs. Nations are racing to secure strategic footholds beyond Earth. Space has become a crucial domain for communications, navigation, and deterrence as well as a frontier for innovation and investment. The absence of clear governance frameworks has spurred urgent debates over orbital congestion, resource rights, and security in orbit and beyond. For policymakers, diplomats, and entrepreneurs alike, the emerging space economy demands fluency not only in science and technology but also in law, markets and international relations.

Georgetown’s global perspective and presence in Washington, DC, place students at the crossroads of science, policy and diplomacy, where decisions about the future of space are actively being shaped. Here, students can study alongside world-class faculty engaged with NASA, Carnegie, the Smithsonian, the State Department and leading space companies, gaining both technical literacy and strategic insight. With unparalleled access to policymakers, industry leaders, and international institutions, Georgetown offers a front-row seat to the unfolding story of humanity’s expansion into space and the tools to help lead it.