Global Space Policy

Duration
9 Weeks
Start Date
06 March 2025
Register here
About the Course

The Global Space Policy (GSP) Course is aimed at equipping practitioners and professionals with information, knowledge and skills, to make the best space decisions, policies, strategies and programmes, while taking cognizance of limited available resources and the geopolitical environment. It is intended for students, professionals and executives, who are interested in the science and art of decision- and policy-making.

The Course is taught by expert facilitators from around the world. The course modules and content are designed to accommodate people from different academic and professional backgrounds.

Live sessions take place virtually for the convenience of the participants. There are also non-live interactive sessions.

 

Expected learning outcomes

  • Understand concepts used in space policy, security, governance and diplomacy

  • Appreciate the importance of space policy and learn to apply the process of space policymaking

  • Understand the nexus between space policy and development of firm/national space capability

  • How to analyse and synthesise information for decision/policy making

  • Learn from the SWOT analysis of selected spacefaring and emerging countries and apply lessons learnt

  • Understand trends in national, regional and international space governance

  • Develop knowledge and skills for tackling emerging technological and policy challenges

 

Who should attend?

  • Government officials

  • Public servants

  • Members of Parliament

  • Organisation/Team Leads

  • Young professionals

  • Students

 

Benefits of participation

  • Learn principles and practice of space policy- and decision-making
  • Access relevant space policy documents

  • Gain knowledge in comparative space policy

  • Earn a certificate in Global Space Policy

  • Become part of the ASLI Network

 

Curriculum

The course contains four modules.

Primer on Outer Space: Sound policy requires some level of fundamental technical knowledge. This module is to provide necessary foundational knowledge about space including fundamental space science, satellites, orbits, frequency spectrum, and spaceflight. Two topics will be covered in this module namely Physics of Outer Space Environment and Orbital Mechanics.

Primer on Space Policymaking: A discussion on concepts, process and actors in space policy making and advising, as well as a brief history on space development. Three topics will be covered under this module namely Fundamentals of Space Policymaking; Space geopolitics; and Design of a Space Policy and Strategy.

The lecture on Fundamentals of Space Policymaking introduces principles and methodologies for making space policies. This lecture contains a live simulation exercise.

The lecture on drafting of national space policy and/or strategy gives a general overview of the meaning, application and implication of space policy. It highlights the role of policy and politics in attaining national goals. It describes the dimensions of space policy and places space policy within the context of other public policies.

Case Studies: Case studies of two countries in Africa (Egypt and South Africa), two non-African countries (India and the UK) and three regional space programmes (the EU, Asia-Pacific and Latin-America regions).

There will also be a discussion on the African Outer Space Programme. This consist of the African Space Policy and Strategy; the African Space Agency (AfSA) and AU space application programmes.

Space Governance: This module is an introduction into the provisions of the treaties and principles of the Outer Space Treaty. There also be a discussion on space institutions and governance frameworks.

 

Facilitators
– Dr. Youssef Moulane (Astrophysicist, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, UM6P)
– Prof. Namrata Goswami (Professor, John Hopkins University, USA)
– Dr. Valanathan Munsami (Deputy CEO, Saudi Space Agency; and Cofounder, ASLI)
– Dr. Tatiana Viana (Organizzazione Internazionale Italo-Latino Americano, IILA)
– Dr. Taiwo Tejumola (University of Southampton, UK)
– Lina Pohl (European Space Policy Institute, Vienna)
– Meshack Ndiritu (African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
– Dr. Arnold Agaba (McGill Instiute of Air and Space Law, McGill university, Canada)
– Dr. Narayan Prasad (Cofounder, satsearch and Spaceport Sarabhai)
– Dr. Bleddyn Bowen (Professor, University of Leicester, UK)
– Dr. Haitham Akah (Egyptian Space Agency)
– Natasha van Rooyen (Space consultant and analyst)
– Etim Offiong (Cofounder, ASLI)

 

Recommended books

 

Programme schedule
Live sessions hold on every Thursday and Friday in March and April, from 13h00 GMT

Sessions are virtual, using a proprietary Learning Management System (LMS).

 

Registration
ZAR 5,400

 

Further enquiries could be sent to info@aslispace.org

Space Policy Certification Course was one of the best learning experiences that I had with the Africa Space Leadership Institute (ASLI), right from the beginning to the end. Tutors were carefully chosen and they exhibited high level of knowledge in the field, with appropriate real-life applications. The classes were very interactive and expanded our knowledge. The tasks given were clear and focused on solving appropriate problems based on global, continental and country needs. Overall, I came out very inspired about policy making and today I see situations differently. I would easily recommend others to join the course.

Dr. Awuor Ochieng Adero – Department of Astronomy and Space Sciences, Technical University of Kenya

I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the whole ASLI team for giving me the wonderful opportunity to interact with professors and experts in discovering some of the challenges that the nations are facing in the space sector. I enjoyed this course, because it helped me to see how the space sector can be improved in terms of regulations, policies, laws and why it is essential for nations to act responsible in space. I will definitely want to take part in more such programs.

Georgiana L. Moruz – MA Security and Diplomacy, SNSPA, Romania

Attending the space policy course by the African Space Leadership Academy was transformative. As a Medical Doctor from Cameroon, a country without an official space program, I discovered the immense potential of the space sector in strengthening African healthcare. The course provided a deep understanding of Africa’s space industry, its potential for enhancing healthcare even with limited resources. This knowledge has been invaluable in shaping my medical approach with innovative space-based solutions

Yvan Solo, MD (Global Surgery Fellow, University of Cape Town, South Africa)

My time at ASLI was great and informative. I was exposed to the world’s best experts in Space Policy. The course didn’t leave me the same; the knowledge obtained helped me & my team to navigate through the work task of creating a localised space policy for my country.

Johnson Kibirige – Aerospace & Defence Committee, Uganda

The course is brief but provides a good insight into the ongoings of the space industry. I found the lecturers well vast with their respective fields of expertise.

Richard Ruhesi – Director Air Navigation Services, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.