Routledge Handbook of Space Policy

Book excerpt: This volume offers a comprehensive overview of the field of space policy. Space is a technology-driven domain, and policy development has accelerated in recent years, at a time when the space economy has begun to show remarkable potential. Thus, this handbook gathers experts from different fields with the aim of (1) offering an overview of the state of play regarding space policy issues, and (2) expanding knowledge about possible future developments. Given the cross-disciplinary nature of the subject and its vast scope, the authors' contributions are grouped within different thematic sections, as follows: • Theoretical structures for an understanding of space policies • The history of space • Society, justice, and the human impact • Governance of space • Popularisation of space • New frontiers in space and expansion into the unknown • World space policies by geographic areas. The introduction and the conclusion chapters provide a coherent connection between the contributions, with each section presenting transversal themes, such as power dynamics and rules, commercialisation, sustainability, militarisation, applications and domestic use, and justice. This volume will be of much interest to students of space policy and power, security studies, and international relations.