Cooperative Policy Coordination in Space Exploration

The way in which political actors interact to coordinate international cooperative political outcomes in space exploration and development of space is systematically assessed by applying policy models of international cooperation. This assessment is accomplished through an analysis of cooperative case studies from 1957 to 1997. The results of this study indicate that international cooperation is sensitive to the type of political actors involved and the values those actors place on power, interests, policy preferences and knowledge decision-making dynamics. Application of the policy models and policy recommendations to enhance cooperative decision-making processes in space exploration and development of space are presented and discussed.