George Mason University is again offering its popular short course, October 4-6, 2005, at the School of Public Policy, 3401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia. This course will provide participants with an understanding of the extent of the U.S. government’s involvement in space activities, and is co-sponsored by the AAS and the Space Foundation.
AAS and SF members get a $50 discount on the registration fee.

For more information or to register visit www.gmupolicy.net/space/

The United States has been a world leader in space activities throughout the Space Age. With the demise of the Soviet Union and the subsequent steep decline in space spending in Russia, both civil and military, the U.S. today stands as the single space superpower. Central to this superpower status is the broad range of ongoing space related activities carried out by the U.S. government, including the implementation of the space exploration vision announced by President Bush last year.

This two and a half day course is intended to provide participants with an understanding of the extent of the U.S. government’s involvement in space activities. Relevant departments and agencies of the Administration will be addressed along with the key congressional committees. Particular attention will be paid to the roles and interactions of these different organizations in the development and implementation of U.S. space policy, within the Administration and the legislative process. U.S. government space activities within the broader context of space activities worldwide will also be addressed.

The course will consist of presentation sessions involving individual lectures by prominent speakers from governement and academia, and panel sessions addressing specific topics, which will include non-U.S. participants. Panel sessions will include group discussion involving both the panelists and course participants.

Registration is on a first come-first served basis, since class size is limited to a maximum of 40 registrants.