Crowded Orbits

James Clay Moltz provides a broad audience with a long-needed book that explains 'space basics,' the importance of space to the general public, the challenges of operating in space, and the political conundrums of international cooperation and competition in space-and in language laymen can understand. Each time I teach a course on this material-where a book like this will be very useful-my students say, 'Everyone should be aware of this information and the issues.' Now, Moltz has made that possible. His book is scholarly, readable, and fills a significant gap in the literature. -- Joan Johnson-Freese, U.S. Naval War College

A general history of international space relations and an insider perspective on future trends.Space has become increasingly crowded since the end of the Cold War, with new countries, companies, and even private citizens operating satellites and becoming spacefarers. This book offers general readers a valuable primer on space policy from an international perspective. It examines the competing themes of space competition and cooperation while providing readers with an understanding of the basics of space technology, diplomacy, commerce, science, and military applications. The recent expansion of human space activity poses new challenges to existing treaties and other governance tools for space, increasing the likelihood of conflict over a diminishing pool of beneficial locations and resources close to Earth. Drawing on more than twenty years of experience in international space policy debates, James Clay Moltz examines possible avenues for cooperation among the growing pool of space actors, considering their shared interests in space traffic management, orbital debris control, division of the radio frequency spectrum, and the prevention of military conflict. Moltz concludes with policy recommendations for enhanced international collaboration in space situational awareness, scientific exploration, and restraining harmful military activities.