Space policy
This page lists resources about space policy, think tanks, and fellowships.
This article is a work in progress. You can recommend other resources for inclusion here.
Space policy resources
The following list is meant as a starting point for someone learning about the field and recent developments; there are many great resources we were not able to include, and recommend doing your own research into particular topics you’re interested in.
Newsletters
- SpacePolicyOnline.com
- Payload Space
- SpaceNews newsletters
- The Space Advocate, The Planetary Society
Books
- When the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach (2023)
- The Politics of Space Security (2019)
- Space Policy in Developing Countries (2017)
- Handbook of Space Security: Policies, Applications and Programs (2015)
- After Apollo?: Richard Nixon and the American Space Program (2015)
Podcasts
- The Space Policy Show, Aerospace Corporation Center for Space Policy and Strategy
- Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition, The Planetary Society
- War in Space, Royal United Services Institute
- Space Policy Pod, Space Foundation (inactive but with archive of 15 episodes)
Online courses
- eLearning Courses on Space Law, UNOOSA
- Space Policy 101, Nonproliferation Policy Education Center
- The Business, Politics, Policy, & Players of Space Programs, Coursera
Think tank reports and policy analysis
- Congressional Research Service reports (search term “space”)
- Space Threat Assessment, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
- Global Counterspace Capabilities Report, Secure World Foundation
- Publication pages of think tanks listed below
Government strategies
- Space Policy Review and Strategy on Protection of Satellites (2023), DOD
- Strategic Framework for Space Diplomacy (2023), State Department
- US Space Priorities Framework (2021), White House
- Global: Space Security Portal, UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
International organizations and treaties
- United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
- Artemis Accords (2020)
- Outer Space Treaty (1967)
Conferences and events
- SpacePolicyOnline.com events list
- Space Symposium, Space Foundation (annual conference)
- SpaceCom
- Summer Course on Space Law and Policy, European Space Agency
Think tanks working on space policy
While the below list is not comprehensive, we hope it is a useful starting point if you are interested in working at a think tank on space policy.
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Aerospace Security Project
- Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
- Aerospace Corporation, Center for Space Policy and Strategy
- Secure World Foundation (SWF)
- George Washington University, Space Policy Institute (SPI)
- RAND Corporation: Space Enterprise Initiative
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Space Project
- Atlantic Council: Space
- European Space Policy Institute (ESPI)
- Heritage Foundation: Space Policy
- Space Foundation
- Royal United Services Institute: Space Policy
- London Institute of Space Policy and Law
- European Centre for Space Law
Space-relevant policy fellowships
The following fellowship programs are especially relevant for space policy work (see also our full fellowship database for 50+ opportunities):
- John Bahcall Public Policy Fellowship (American Astronomical Society) – a 1-2 year postdoctoral science policy appointment for early-career astronomers
- NASA Fellowships – NASA offers various fellowships for graduate students and postdocs, some of which can involve policy research.
- Brooke Owens Fellowship – summer fellowship at policy, science, or engineering institutions for female and gender minority undergraduates interested in aerospace.
- Center for Space Governance Fellowship – remote fellowship involving work as Research Fellows, Research Affiliates, and Policy Affiliates.
- Berkner Space Policy Internship Program (National Academies) – DC-based internships in civil space research policy for undergraduate and graduate students (applications open twice a year).
- George Washington University, Space Policy Institute Fellowships – academic scholarships for students affiliated with the Space Policy Institute.
- Space Policy Fellowship (Nonproliferation Policy Education Center) – a “six-lecture virtual fellowship on the fundamentals of civil and military space policy followed by an additional round table policy discussion and a space war game.”
General science and technology policy fellowships relevant to space policy:
- Horizon Fellowship (Horizon Institute for Public Service) – a 6-24 month full-time US emerging technology policy fellowship facilitating job placements in the US executive branch, Congress, and think tanks for early- and mid-career individuals. (Note that the Horizon Fellowship and this website are both projects of the Horizon Institute for Public Service.)
- AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships (American Association for the Advancement of Science) – a 12-month fellowship in DC with four separate tracks, that places fellows within the executive branch, judicial branch, legislative branch, or in a nonprofit. The fellowship is for individuals with a doctoral-level degree.
- Congressional Innovation Fellowship (TechCongress) – a 10-12 month full-time fellowship for early and mid-career professionals involving placements with a Member of Congress or a Congressional Committee
- STPI Science Policy Fellowship (Institute for Defense Analyses) – A 24-month, full-time fellowship for recent bachelor’s or master’s graduates, in which fellows work with teams of researchers to support S&T policy-related tasks
- Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program (National Academies) – a 12-week program for graduate students or recent PhD graduates
- Science & Technology Policy Fellowship (Aspen Tech Policy Hub) – a full-time, paid, three-week program teaching science and technology professional about policy
- Emerging Scholars in Technology Policy (Princeton University, Center for Information Technology Policy) – a 2-year tech policy research position with coursework and mentoring