December 11, 2009
The new U.S. Administration is facing a wide range of international challenges and opportunities in space policy. In the civil space sector, the central question is whether the United States will continue its efforts in pushing human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Two successive, bipartisan Congressional authorizations have been encouraging but near term budget decisions by the Administration and Congressional appropriators will likely be decisive on the pace and scope of human exploration for the United States. The most important near term international issues are likely to be those affecting common environments in space and on the Earth. International space cooperation on climate change will be an important part of creating continuous high quality scientific information on an operational basis. International discussions on “rules of the road” in space, efforts to improve space situational awareness, and reduction of space debris should be of high priority to all spacefaring states.
Scott Pace is the Director of the Space Policy Institute and a Professor of Practice in International Affairs at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. His research interests include civil, commercial, and national security space policy, and the management of technical innovation. From 2005-2008, he served as the Associate Administrator for Program Analysis and Evaluation at NASA. Prior to NASA, Dr. Pace was the Assistant Director for Space and Aeronautics in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). From 1993-2000, Dr Pace worked for the RAND Corporation's Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI). From 1990 to 1993, Dr. Pace served as the Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Office of Space Commerce, in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Harvey Mudd College in 1980; Masters degrees in Aeronautics & Astronautics and Technology & Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982; and a Doctorate in Policy Analysis from the RAND Graduate School in 1989. Dr. Pace received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2008, the U.S. Department of State’s Group Superior Honor Award, GPS Interagency Team, in 2005, and the NASA Group Achievement Award, Columbia Accident Rapid Reaction Team, in 2004. He has been a member of the U.S. Delegation to the World Radiocommunication Conferences in 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2007. He was also a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunications Working Group, 1997-2000. He is a past member of the Earth Studies Committee, Space Studies Board, National Research Council and the Commercial Activities Subcommittee, NASA Advisory Council. Dr. Pace is a currently a member of the Board of Trustees, Universities Space Research Association and a Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Astronautics.