Outer Space Policy in U.S.-China Relations – NCTA Online Program

Are you intrigued by the evolving public and private dimensions of outer space policy? Did you follow the Odysseus Moon lander, the first privately build spacecraft and first U.S. one to land on the moon in 50 years? Do you think about the potential for both cooperation and conflict among nations in outer space, especially when it comes to the United States and China? If so, join the World Affairs Council’s Global Classroom Director and K-12 educator Ryan Hauck and the University of Washington’s East Asia Resource Center in a “Beyond the Headlines” lecture by Professor Saadia M. Pekkanen, Founding Director, Space Law, Data and Policy Program (SPACE LDP). The lecture will be followed by a Q&A.

For more context and information about the program and outer space policy, please see the following abstract from Professor Pekkannen.

Abstract

Outer Space Policy
Saadia M. Pekkanen

Space is critical to America’s preeminence in the world. But whether space can remain peaceful is not clear. Today, as the United States positions strategically in the  civilian, commercial, and military space activities it confronts many ambitious states jostling for national advantages. There is also an intensifying bipolar rivalry between the United States and China who are far above the rest in the space domain. Unlike the old space race, they have to contend with three deeply-intertwined trends that cut across the northern hemisphere and the global south. These are: (1) democratization that brings in a new set of nationalist players such as the UAE, India, South Africa, Brazil etc.; (2) commercialization that also brings new private entrants such as SpaceX, Planet Labs, ispace, etc. and beckons prosperity with unprecedented technologies and innovation; and, (3) militarization that bends those dual-use technologies into weaponization because of security dilemmas. Together, the changes in geopolitics and the emergence of these trends pose diplomatic challenges for peaceful prospects in space.

Program details

Thursday, April 25, 2024, 4:30 – 6:30 PM (Pacific Time).

This program will be held on Zoom.

Presenters

Ryan Hauck, World Affair Council Global Classroom Director and K-12 educator.

Saadia M. Pekkanen, Professor, Founding Director, Space Law, Data and Policy Program (SPACE LDP). You can learn more about Professor Pekkanen’s research and media on her website.

Benefits

• Educators’ resource guide
• 2 WA OSPI free clock hours

The seminar is offered to K-12 educators free of charge thanks to a generous grant from the Freeman Foundation to the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA), and it is sponsored by the University of Washington’s East Asia Resource Center.