Space policy

Space policy resources

This list is an introduction to the field. While we couldn’t include many great resources here, we encourage you to do your own research on particular topics of interest.

Space-relevant policy fellowships

The following fellowship programs are especially relevant for space policy work (see also our full fellowship database for 50+ opportunities):

1. John Bahcall Public Policy Fellowship (American Astronomical Society) – a 1-2 year postdoctoral science policy appointment for early-career astronomers
2. NASA Fellowships – NASA offers various fellowships for graduate students and postdocs, some of which can involve policy research.
3. Brooke Owens Fellowship – summer fellowship at policy, science, or engineering institutions for female and gender minority undergraduates interested in aerospace.
4. Center for Space Governance Fellowship – remote fellowship involving work as Research Fellows, Research Affiliates, and Policy Affiliates.
5. 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).
6. George Washington University, Space Policy Institute Fellowships – academic scholarships for students affiliated with the Space Policy Institute.
7. 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:

1. 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.)
2. 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.
3. TechCongress 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
4. 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
5. Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program (National Academies) – a 12-week program for graduate students or recent PhD graduates
6. Science & Technology Policy Fellowship (Aspen Tech Policy Hub) – a full-time, paid, three-week program teaching science and technology professional about policy
7. Emerging Scholars in Technology Policy (Princeton University, Center for Information Technology Policy) – a 2-year tech policy research position with coursework and mentoring

Think tanks working on space policy

This list isn’t comprehensive, but we hope it’s a useful starting point if you’re interested in think tank work 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
• Center for Study of Space Crime, Piracy, and Governance