Space Policy: Understanding Space Activities, Motivations and Programs

Dimensions Of Space Policy

Before this chapter focusses on the specific contents and historic developments of space policies around the world, it is crucial to characterise and define the generic nature of space policy. Explaining the lenses through which space policies should be understood is crucial in order to grasp the true meaning and rationale behind them.

Since the term ‘policy’ is widely used in contemporary society, it is important to look at its generic substance before elaborating on the specificities of space policies. Generally speaking, ‘policy’ can be defined as “a set of ideas or plans of what to do in particular situations which has been agreed upon officially by a group of people, a business organization, a government, or a political party”¹. Policies formulated by the executive or legislative branch of government – as is typically the case for space and other policies at political level – are therefore a very important basis for making decisions. In fact, policies serve multiple purposes at once, thanks to their different ‘dimensions’.