STIA 4400: Space Diplomacy

Spaceflight increasingly serves as a powerful tool for diplomacy, fostering collaboration between nations and shaping global relations.

This interdisciplinary course explores the role of outer space in international relations, examining how space programs, missions, and technologies influence political, economic, and strategic interactions on Earth. Throughout the semester, students will investigate how spaceflight has served as a tool of diplomacy, while also examining how diplomatic frameworks and negotiations are essential for space exploration.

Key topics include the role of multinational organizations like the United Nations in space policy, landmark programs in space history (such as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and the International Space Station (ISS), and the emerging opportunities and challenges of space commercialization and the growth of national space programs. Students will discuss the ethical, legal, and environmental implications of space activities, including the militarization of space, space traffic management, managing natural resources, and efforts to preserve space as a global commons.

Additionally, the course will encourage students to critically assess the broader role of space diplomacy in addressing terrestrial issues, from climate change to global health to disaster relief.

By the end of the course, students will understand the dynamic, symbiotic relationship between spaceflight and diplomacy, and be equipped with the skills to engage with the evolving discourse on space policy.