0 or 3 credits
Fall 2026 Lecture Recitation Upper Division
This course will explore the grand challenge of space exploration from scientific, social, economical, political, environmental, and technological perspectives. Students will explore the history of space exploration, along with the scientific discoveries and funding programs that have shaped modern-day science and engineering. In the context of economy, the course will discuss resource retrieval, space mining, and the potential impacts of a space economy, including capitalism in space. Politically, it will examine space organization, citizenship, geopolitical tensions, and the role of private funding in space exploration. Environmentally, we will reflect on launch carbon footprints, while thinking ahead as we have increasing recycling in space and new future green technologies come to fruition. All topics will be framed within past, present, and future technological needs for space exploration, taking into account ethical considerations, focusing on space habitation and exploration implications. This course will include weekly in-class discussions and written reflection assignments, culminating in a speculative fiction piece that reflects on the themes discussed in class.
Learning Outcomes1Learn the history of space exploration, including the background to past and present space programs around the world.
2Learn how the science and engineering of space exploration are funded.
3Be exposed to several discussions focused on the implications of social, economic, political, and environmental impacts of space exploration. You will be encouraged to reflect on how these implications affect society and your local community.
4Produce a piece of speculative fiction that will cover some of the aspects of space exploration discussed (or not) during this course.
5Learn how to conduct discussions and how to use speculative discussions to guide space-related decisions.
Restrictions
made by Purdue students.