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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL/LAW 342"
COURSE NAME: "The Politics and Law of Space Activities"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Andrea Capurso
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: PL 209; PL/LAW 320 highly recommended
OFFICE HOURS: MW 2:00PM
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course provides a comprehensive account of the past, present and future of space activities, with a focus on the interrelation between national space strategies, geopolitical developments, and regulatory solutions. In the framework of the course, students will gain knowledge on the periodical shifts from competition (e.g. Moon race) to cooperation (e.g. International Space Station) among the USA, Russia (then USSR), China and other spacefaring States. These shifts in policies and the changing environment of space actors, including space companies, are examined in connection with the evolution and current analysis of space law. The course also examines current debated issues, which are part of the agenda of all the main spacefaring States, such as: the colonization of the Moon; the sustainable use of outer space, in particular by private actors; the militarization and weaponization of outer space; the use of data from satellites.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course is structured in two distinct parts, reflecting its dual focus on historical and contemporary issues in space politics and law. The first half investigates the origins and development of space activities from the Cold War through the 21st century. It  examines the geopolitical dynamics behind them, the content and political value of the international space treaties, and the changing trends in space politics in recent years, looking in particular at the position of emerging space powers (e.g. China, India, Japan) as well as at the role of space companies in the formulation of political and regulatory decisions. Central questions include how the space policy of the most technogically advanced States changed in reflection of the shifts of powers in the geopolitical landscape, and how these changes affected the international legal framework on space matters.

The second half of the course addresses policy debates and key regulatory challenges in specific topics related to the most pressing space issues. They include renewed missions to the Moon, sustainable space activities, private conduct in outer space, militarization and cybersecurity threats, satellite data regulation, human spaceflight, Europe’s unique governance of space matters. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and case studies, students will critically analyze the interplay between political strategies and legal responses, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how space law evolves to address emerging technologies and geopolitical shifts. The course aims to equip students with the analytical tools needed to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of international space politics and law.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the space sector, from a policy and a legal perspectives. They will be able to:

1.      Outline the development of space policies since the Cold War-era to today.

2.      Explore contemporary challenges in the geopolitics and institutional governance of space matters.

3.      Critically examine the content and evolutive interpretation of the international space treaties.

4.      Contextualize the trends of democratization, privatization and commercialization of space activities.

5.      Understand the role of space companies at the international level and their relation to authorizing and launching States.

6.      Develop a research on a specific space issue, demonstrating writing and presentation skills.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Mid-term examIn class exam consisting in two open-answer questions.25%
Research essay + presentationWrite a short essay on a topic agreed with the professor and prepare a 15 minutes ppt presentation to be presented in class (starting from week 8). The evaluation is based on both the submitted essay and the presentation.25%
Final examIn class exam consisting in one essay question and one case-study to solve.40%
Class participation 10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

 

Week

Topic

Reading Assignment

Week 1 – Class 1

 

– Class 2

1) The old space race (1960s): first political doctrines on the use of outer space.

 

2) The origin of space law.

T. Muir-Harmony, The Space Race and American Foreign Relations, Oxford Research Encyclopedia, 2017, p. 1-18.

T. Masson-Zwaan, The Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in Widening the Horizons of Outer Space Law, Meijers-reeks, 2023, p. 21-31.

Week 2 – Class 3

 

 

– Class 4

3) The treaty making era (1967-1979).

 

4) (Continues).

R. Jakhu, Overview of the Existing Mechanisms of Global Space Governance, in Global Space Governance: An International Study, Springer, 2017, p. 20-29.

F. Von der Dunk, International Space Law, in Handbook of Space Law, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017, p. 78-103.

Week 3 – Class 5

 

 

– Class 6

5) The post-‘moon race’: space policies of the USA, Russia and Europe during the Cold War.

6) Space powers after the Cold War: a new balance.

T. Muir-Harmony, The Space Race and American Foreign Relations, Oxford Research Encyclopedia, 2017, p. 18-24.

F. Vidal, Russia in Outer Space: A Shrinking Space Power in the Era of Global Change, in Space Policy, Vol. 69, 2024, p. 1-7.

Week 4 – Class 7

 

 

– Class 8

7) International governance: relevant space institutions.

 

8) The democratization of access to space.

R. Jakhu, Overview of the Existing Mechanisms of Global Space Governance, in Global Space Governance: An International Study, Springer, 2017, p. 30-45.

T. Masson-Zwaan, New States in Space, in American Journal of International Law Unbound – The New Space Race, Vol. 113, 2019, p. 98-102.

N. Peter, The changing geopolitics of space activities, in Space Policy, Vol. 22, 2006, p. 100-109.

Week 5 – Class 9

 

 

 

– Class 10

9) The long phase of soft law.

 

 

10) The commercialization and privatization of space activities.

Y. Zhao, Soft Laws Relating to Space Activities, in International Space Law in the New Space Era, Oxford University Press, 2024, p. 183-203.

W. Peeters, Evolution of the Space Economy: Government Space to Commercial Space and New Space, in Atropolitics, Vol. 19, No. 3, 2021, p. 2-15.

Week 6 – Class 11

 

 

– Class 12

11) National space laws.

 

 

12) State responsibility for the activities of space companies.

I. Marboe, National space law, in Handbook of Space Law, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017, p. 127-138.

D. Zannoni, The Responsibility for Private Activities in Outer Space: Where is the Clue to this Puzzle?, in Osservatorio sulle fonti, No. 2, 2021, p. 600-623.

Week 7 – Class 13

– Class 14

13) Review session.

14) Mid-term.

N/A

Week 8 – Class 15

 

– Class 16

15) The political landscape of the new Moon Race.

16) Legal problems behind Moon missions.

Center for Strategic and International Studies, Salmon swimming upstream – charting a course in cislunar space, CSIS Reports, 2024, p. 5-16 and p. 25-28.

Week 9 – Class 17

 

 

– Class 18

17) Sustainability of space activities.

 

18) The space debris problem between politics and law.

OECD, The Economics of Space Sustainability, OECD Publishing, 2024, p. 23-37.

D. Zannoni, Out of sight, out of mind? The proliferation of space debris and international law, in Leiden Journal of International Law, Vol. 35, 2022, p. 295-314.

Week 10 – Class 19

 

 

– Class 20

19) A militarized space: threats and geopolitical strategies.

 

20) Cybersecurity of space activities.

P. Meyer, Diplomacy: The Missing Ingredient in Space Security, in War and Peace in Outer Space, Oxford University Press, 2021, p. 287-300.

Center for Strategic and International Studies, Space threat assessment 2024, CSIS Reports, 2024, p. 1-6 and p. 35-39.

Week 11 – Class 21

 

 

– Class 22

21) The prevention of an arms race in outer space.

 

22) The use of space assets in armed conflicts on Earth.

E. Pobje, Space Security Legal Primer 1-Outer Space & Use of Force, UNIDIR Publications, 2024, p. 8-14.

International Committee of the Red Cross, Constraints under International Law on Military Operations in, or in Relation to, Outer Space during Armed Conflicts, ICRC Working Paper, 2022, p. 1-6.

Week 12 – Class 23

 

 – Class 24

23) Data from space: cooperation and competition.

24) Access to space: a matter of autonomy, a problem of liability.

R. Harris, Open data policies and satellite Earth observation, in Space Policy, vol. 32, 2015, p. 44-53.

T. Roberts, Spaceports of the World, CSIS Report, 2019, p. 1-11.

A. Kusters, Strategic Autonomy in EU Space Policy, cepInput, Vol. 4, 2024, p. 6-13.

Week 13 – Class 25

 

 

– Class 26

25) Human spaceflight: the legal regime of astronauts, tourists and personnel.

26) Between air and space: suborbital flights.

S. Freeland, A Round Trip to the Stars?: Considerations for the Regulation of Space Tourism, in Air & Space Law, Vol. 47, No. 2 2022, p. 261–284.

Week 14 – Class 27

 

 

– Class 28

27) Europe in Space: the governance conundrum.

 

28) EU space regulations.

C. Cellerino, EU Space Policy and Strategic Autonomy: Tackling Legal Complexities in the Enhancement of the Security and Defence Dimension of the Union in Space, in European Papers, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2023, p. 487-501.

Week 15 – Class 29

– Class 30

29) Review session.

30) Final exam.

N/A