STIA 4410: Governing the Next Frontier—Cislunar Space

Cislunar governance concerns the rules for the region of space extending from Earth’s orbit out to and including the orbit and surface of the Moon. This zone is fast becoming a crossroads for science, commerce, and security, yet no agreed playbook exists for how countries and companies should operate there, or how existing treaties and agreements should guide behavior.

In this class, students will explore: why cislunar space matters, how it could shape the future balance of power, open new markets, and how its exploration may unfold cooperatively or competitively. They will examine the unique governance challenges of this domain—from tracking spacecraft to setting navigation and timing standards to preventing conflict—and debate how rules for safety, access, sustainability, and commerce might be designed to shape the next phase of human activity beyond Earth.