The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs is a world leader in research, graduate study, and informed discussion related to issues of science, technology, and public policy. The Space Policy Institute celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017. The Institute conducts research, offers graduate courses and organizes seminars, symposia, and conferences on topics related to domestic and international space policy. SPI is associated with the International Science and Technology Policy academic program, which leads to a Master of Arts degree at the Elliott School. The Institute operates within the Elliott School, but does so with support from The George Washington University as a whole, in addition to funding from a number of individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources. The Institute is directed by Dr. Henry Hertzfeld.

SPI focuses its activities on policy issues related to the space efforts of the United States, as well as the cooperative and competitive interactions in space between the United States and other nations. The Institute provides a setting in which scholars, policy analysts, practitioners, and students can work together on current and future space issues. The Space Policy Institute is a proud affiliate of the Aerospace Corporation, International Space University, the European Space Policy Institute and the Beijing Institute of Technology, Institute of Space Law.