Note: This is an academic event for members of the space policy and space history communities.

Spaceflight as Soft Power: The Chinese, Russian, and American Space Programs in Contrast

Space feats have long served as instruments of prestige and soft power. Even before Sputnik launched the Space Race in 1957, theorists and politicians alike recognized that space exploration would “inflame the imagination.” A surrogate for war, space feats soon became the quintessential form of soft power in the Cold War competition for geopolitical alignment. What does spaceflight symbolize today? Does soft power factor into US, Russian, Chinese space policy in similar or divergent ways? How has the role of soft power in national space programs evolved over time? 

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) are pleased to announce the next Space Policy and History Forum featuring a panel discussion comparing the role of soft power in the US, Russian, and Chinese space programs. Join us for an in-depth analysis of the history and future of soft power in space policy.

Panelists: 

  • Dr. Bill Barry, chief historian, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  • Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony, curator of the Apollo collection at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

  • Lincoln Hines, PhD candidate, international relations and comparative politics, Cornell University 

Moderator:

  • Dr. Bhavya Lal, IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute. 

Space is limited to 50 attendees, so please RSVP here. 

Can't attend in person? Watch the live webcast.

Date and Time
Thursday, October 31, 4:00 to 5:30 pm. There will be a post-lecture happy hour open to all Forum attendees. 

Location
The Forum will be held at the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) at 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC. 

*If you are a non-U.S. citizen, we request that you RSVP no later than 8 days before the Forum, email Teasel Muir-Harmony (muir-harmonyt@si.edu) with the following information: full name (as it appears on your passport); passport number; and country of origin. Please bring your passport to the event. 

Questions?
Contact Teasel Muir-Harmony. 

About the Space Policy and History Forum
The Space Policy and History Forum is organized by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, with support from the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), a federally funded research and development center created by Congress to support the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and other executive agencies in the federal government.

How to attend

Science and Technology Policy Institute