SPI non-resident scholar, Dr. Deganit Paikowsky, recently publish an article on the evolution of U.S. space politics from directing space programs to orchestrating an ecosystem. The full title is: “Exploration, exploitation, and expansion: A three-wave framework for unpacking the shift in U.S. space politics from directing a national space program to orchestrating an ecosystem”.
The article offers a conceptual framework for understanding ecosystems orchestration as important statecraft in contemporary space politics, shaping power distribution.
Elif Yüksel is a Turkish pioneer in space diplomacy and space policy. She is a Fulbright Scholar, Space Policy Institute Fellow, and an alumna of the International Space University. Currently, she works as a consultant for several private space companies and voluntarily serves as an Ambassador for the AstroAid Foundation.
Takuya Wakimoto, SPI contributor, has had his peer-reviewed article “Crisis in Space: Assessing Japan’s Legal Gaps in Space Emergency Response,” publish in ScienceDirect. This paper explores the legal and institutional challenges in Japan’s space emergency response framework, identifying coordination gaps and proposing pragmatic reforms to strengthen national readiness.
The Space Policy Institute, in partnership with The Aerospace Corporation Center for Space Policy and Strategy, invites you to join us for a live debate on “Should the Wolf Amendment be Repealed?”
When: Thursday, November 13, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where: Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E St, Suite 602, Washington, DC
Come join SPI and The Aerospace Corporation on whether the Wolf Amendment should be repealed. Hear from:
Dean Cheng, nonresident Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies
Dan Hart, nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and President of HarTechnologies
The panel will be moderated by Brian Weeden, Director of Civil and Commercial Policy, the Aerospace Corporation Center for Space Policy and Strategy.
With remarks from Space Policy Institute Director Scott Pace and Professor of Practice of International Affairs Robert Sutter.
Background: Nearly 15 years after its inclusion in a 2011 annual appropriations bill, the Wolf Amendment remains a hotly debated topic reflecting many of the core geopolitical and philosophical issues at the heart of the debate over the U.S.-China relationship on matters of space and more. The following two essays offer contrasting views on the efficacy and relevance of the Wolf Amendment. One view argues for retaining the amendment, clarifying its limits and pointing out possible consequences a repeal could initiate. The opposing view recommends repeal of the amendment, calling it a vestige from an earlier time that only creates more bureaucracy and waste while over-politicizing space engagements between the United States and China.
Attributed to The Aerospace Corporation by Dan Hart, Dean Cheng, and Brian Weeden.
Bruno Martini (former SPI visiting scholar) and Dr. Maria Célia Barbosa Reis da Silva, published a proposal for the creation of a Brazilian Space Force. The article represents the outcome of his research work done at SPI as a visiting scholar.
Bruno Martini Oceanographer and Master in Coastal and Oceanic Systems Dynamics from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Brazil. Ph.D. Candidate in Aerospace Sciences at the Brazilian Air Force University (UNIFA).
Dr. Pace’s presentation, “Aligning U.S. Policies, Programs, and Budgets in Space,” offered a thought-provoking analysis of how the United States can strengthen its leadership in space.
We congratulate Kimi (Space Policy Institute Non-Resident Scholar Kimitake Nakamura) for his newest book “Norm Formation in Space Law”, to be selected as the IAA Social Sciences Book Award 2025.
The IAA Social Sciences Book Award is an annual honor presented by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). It recognizes excellence in publication within the field of social sciences related to astronautics, space policy, and space law. The award is typically given to a member or corresponding member of the Academy whose book demonstrates outstanding scholarly achievement or significant impact in these disciplines.
Click here or the article image to read Elif’s Op-ed.
Elif Yüksel is a Turkish pioneer in space diplomacy and space policy. She is a Fulbright Scholar, Space Policy Institute Fellow, and an alumna of the International Space University. Currently, she works as a consultant for several private space companies and voluntarily serves as an Ambassador for the AstroAid Foundation.
On September 26, Dr. Scott Pace participated on a panel at a CSIS event alongside Christian Davenport (author of “Rocket Dreams: Inside the New Space Race”) and Chirag Parikh (former Executive Secretary of the National Space Council).
The event featured a fascinating discussion in which Christian, as a journalist, analyzed the transitions between presidential administrations, complemented by behind-the-scenes perspectives from the two former Executive Secretaries who were serving at the time. Another noteworthy topic was the importance of continuity—passing space programs and capabilities smoothly from one administration to the next.
