MODELING INTERNATIONAL-COOPERATION FOR SPACE EXPLORATION

Space exploration Into the twenty-first century is contingent upon the ability of states to forge an appropriate vehicle for international c ooperation. A theoretical framework that explains international cooper ation in space exploration is proposed. This framework encompasses sci entific, technological, political, and economic initial conditions, st ate and nonstate political actors, and models of cooperation that expl ain how initial conditions and actors interact to realize cooperative outcomes. It is hypothesized that the prevailing initial conditions fa vor certain political actors over others which, in turn, promote a spe cific model of cooperation. Cooperative policy outcomes are examined a nd assessed vis-a-vis case studies of cooperation in space exploration . On this basis, policy recommendations that engender effective cooper ative outcomes in space exploration are suggested.