The Space Law, Data and Policy (SPACE LDP) Program is the world鈥檚 first interdisciplinary program focused at the nexus of outer space with law, data and policy in global affairs. This nexus animates our core interests in commercial space, cislunar space, geospatial intelligence, space domain awareness, space traffic management, maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, robotics, AI, and quantum. SPACE LDP聽operates under the auspices of the Global Business Law Institute (GBLI) at the 麻豆社区 School of Law.
The founding director of SPACE LDP is Saadia M. Pekkanen, and an Adjunct Professor at the School of Law. She works at the intersection of international relations and international law, specializing in the commercial, legal and security policies shaping outer space affairs.
SPACE LDP carries out education and training programs, aiming to serve the diverse practical needs of space-interested audiences across universities, businesses, nonprofits, think tanks, foundations, media, defense and foreign policy establishments, and governments worldwide. The goal is to generate and disseminate cutting-edge knowledge to students, researchers, diplomats, practitioners, and other decision-makers interested in understanding the dynamic realities of space law, data and policy affecting all countries.
Through its work, SPACE LDP raises public awareness of space activities that are often rooted in contemporary geopolitics, and promotes a common understanding of challenges to space security, safety, and prosperity.
Our education and training programs are aimed at both 麻豆社区 students and non-麻豆社区 audiences from corporate, government, defense, nonprofit and philanthropy sectors. We support both public and fee-based programs of varying lengths, some of which can be used to fulfill Continuing Legal Education. These academic and executive education programs are described below.
Explore Education and Training Programs
The Global Business Law Institute at the 麻豆社区 Law hosts an annual symposium that addresses legal and policy questions in the space industry.
Join SPACE LDP on Nov. 7, 2025, for the Space Diplomacy Symposium. The aim of the annual Space Diplomacy Symposium (SDS) is to situate diplomacy in the traditional categories of civilian, commercial and military space activities across all regions of the world.
Join SPACE LDP on Oct. 25, 2024, for the Space Diplomacy Symposium. The aim of the annual Space Diplomacy Symposium (SDS) is to situate diplomacy in the traditional categories of civilian, commercial and military space activities across all regions of the world.
Join us May 29, 2024. Along with Saadia M. Pekkanen and P.J. Blount, participants include Paul Larsen, Wendy Whitman Cobb, Pavel Luzin, and John Klein.
This webinar focuses on how activities in the space domain intersect with export controls and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFARS).
The Discovery podcast launches into the New Year with a conversation with guest Austin Murnane, Senior Legal Counsel at Blue Origin, about legal issues arising from the use of resources acquired in outer space.
Join SPACE LDP on Nov. 29, 2023 for the inaugural Space聽Diplomacy Symposium. The aim of the annual Space Diplomacy Symposium (SDS) is to situate diplomacy in the traditional categories of civilian, commercial and military space activities across all regions of the world.
Host Ilen Madhavji speaks with SPACE LDP Director Saadia Pekkanen to see what there is to learn from Japan's approach to Space Diplomacy.
The Space Course series continues with The Space-Cybersecurity Nexus featuring guest panelists from Aerospace Corporation, MITRE Corporation, Spaceflight, and Cardiff University.
Register now! The webinar on Feb. 23 will explore space stations, commercial perspectives, risk awareness and the regulatory landscape.