This course explores the multidisciplinary fields of exogeography, astropolitics, and space economy, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and evolving landscape of human activities beyond Earth. Through lectures, expert testimonies, discussions, case studies, and an experiential laboratory component, students will gain insights into the geographical, political, and economic aspects of space exploration and development. Through the Space Intelligence Lab — an experiential learning component funded by the LUISS Teaching Innovation Grant 2026 and developed within the research framework of SPHERE (Space Policies, Humanities and Exogeographical Research Ecosystem) at the LUISS Center for International and Strategic Studies (CISS) — students will also develop applied skills in satellite-imagery geopolitical analysis and AI-assisted space governance simulation.

Knowledge and understanding: Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamental concepts and terminology of exogeography, astropolitics and space economics. They will also be able to explain the exogeographical conditions of celestial bodies, including the Moon and Mars, and their implications for human activities. Apply knowledge and understanding: Students will analyse the historical, current, and future challenges and opportunities of space exploration. They will then be able to assess the economics of space activities and their impact on global markets and industries. Through the Space Intelligence Lab, they will apply these analytical skills to read and interpret open-access satellite imagery (Sentinel-2/Copernicus, Planet Labs, Space-Track.org) for geopolitical assessment, using tools such as Google Earth Engine and Sentinel Hub. Judgments: Students will be able to evaluate the role of governments, international organisations and private entities in shaping space policies and develop critical thinking skills to assess space activities' ethical, legal and environmental implications. Communication skills: Students will present comprehensive reports and case studies on exogeographic mapping and exploration beyond Mars. They will also be able to participate in informed discussions on theories and concepts of astropolitics and international space relations, and engage in structured, AI-assisted negotiation simulations on space governance scenarios (lunar resource allocation, Outer Space Treaty revision, satellite interference crises). Learning skills: Students will be able to conduct independent research on emerging trends in space studies, present the results effectively, and demonstrate the ability to continuously update knowledge in the rapidly evolving fields of exogeography, astropolitics, and space economics.

• Understand the fundamental concepts and terminology in exogeography, astropolitics, and space economy. • Explore the exo-geographical conditions on celestial bodies, such as the Moon and Mars. • Analyse the historical, current, and future challenges and opportunities in space exploration. • Examine the role of governments, international organisations, and private entities in shaping space policies. • Investigate the economic aspects of space activities. • Develop critical thinking skills to assess the ethical, legal, and environmental implications of space endeavours. • Apply geospatial intelligence techniques and AI-assisted scenario simulation through the Space Intelligence Lab, with hands-on practice in satellite imagery analysis (Module A) and structured negotiation on space governance issues (Module B).

Due to the varied and innovative course topics, no single textbook can effectively cover the teaching content. Consequently, the course will be based mainly on: • Academic papers; • Book chapters; • Official reports; • Lab-specific materials: operational guide to satellite imagery reading, scenario briefing documents, role cards, and scoring rubrics. As the topics covered by the course are in continuous evolution, and to ensure the most timely updating of the course materials, these will be made available in the imminence of its start. In any case, the teaching materials will respect the expected teaching load. These readings as well as lecture slides will be made available via LUISS Learn (course webpage).

• Classes with the support of audio-visuals; • Lectures by external experts; • Case studies with involvement of students; • Experiential laboratory component (Space Intelligence Lab). This course adopts a seminar model integrated with an experiential laboratory dimension. Numerous expert testimonies from academia, government, business, and professional sectors are planned to provide in-depth knowledge, research, and practical experience. This format encourages interactive discussions, critical analysis, and direct engagement with experts in space affairs. Space Intelligence Lab. The course integrates an experiential laboratory component funded by the LUISS Teaching Innovation Grant 2026, structured in two modules: (A) Satellite Intelligence Lab — geopolitical analysis of open-access and educational satellite imagery (Sentinel-2/Copernicus, Planet Labs, Space-Track.org orbital data) using Google Earth Engine and Sentinel Hub; (B) Space Governance Simulation — AI-assisted multi-actor negotiation scenarios on space policy issues (lunar resource governance, Outer Space Treaty revision, satellite interference crises). The Lab is developed within the research framework of SPHERE (Space Policies, Humanities and Exogeographical Research Ecosystem) at the LUISS Center for International and Strategic Studies (CISS). No prior GIS or programming skills are required: introductory training and reusable operational materials will be provided in-class. The schedule and format of individual Lab sessions will be finalised in coordination with the LUISS Teaching & Learning Innovation Hub.

Attendance threshold and SMART Educational Model. In accordance with the LUISS SMART Educational Model applicable to students enrolled from a.y. 2025/2026, the minimum attendance threshold for compliant status is 70% of in-class sessions, monitored via the BEACON system. Students with documented health issues, work/internship commitments, recognised competitive sports activities, or participation in international mobility programmes (e.g., Double Degree, Erasmus) may be officially exempted from mandatory attendance by the Graduate School; exempted students are flagged to the instructor through MyLuiss. Assessment for compliant students (appeals at the end of the semester of delivery): • Continuous assessment (30% of the final grade): group work with in-class oral presentation, structured as an output of the Space Intelligence Lab (e.g., satellite-imagery intelligence report or policy brief from a negotiation scenario). Assessed via a predefined rubric covering analytical depth, use of sources, argumentative rigour, and presentation quality. Withdrawal or absence from this assessment results in a grade of 0 for that component, included in the calculation of the final grade. The grade obtained cannot be refused. • Final exam (70% of the final grade): individual written examination of 90 minutes, open book, consisting of 2 open-ended questions to be chosen out of 4 proposed. Assessed on conceptual mastery, use of course materials, analytical clarity, and critical argument. Assessment for non-compliant students, officially exempted students, and all students in retake appeal sessions (100% of the final grade): • Same written examination as compliant students (2 open-ended questions chosen out of 4, 90 minutes, open book) — weight 50% of the final grade. • Oral interview of approximately 15 minutes covering the entire course programme, assessing the student's overall mastery of the subject — weight 50% of the final grade. The oral interview serves as a structured compensation for the missed semestral activities, in line with the SMART Educational Model. Note on retake sessions. The combination of continuous assessment (30%) and final exam (70%) applies exclusively in the appeals scheduled at the end of the semester of delivery. In all subsequent retake sessions, assessment is based on the scheme described above (written 50% + oral 50%). Withdrawal rules. From a.y. 2025/2026, the option to refuse the grade is no longer available. Withdrawal is permitted as follows: for verbalising oral exams, until the instructor has expressed an evaluation; for written exams followed by verbalising oral, throughout the duration of the written test or in the subsequent oral as above; for verbalising written exams, until the end of the test. Assessment criteria. All components are assessed against a unified set of criteria: (i) conceptual mastery of course content; (ii) ability to apply analytical frameworks to real-world cases; (iii) quality of sources and evidence; (iv) clarity of argumentation; (v) for Lab outputs, rigour of geospatial analysis and quality of policy reasoning.

• Active attendance and participation in the course; • Quality of the proposed issue for the thesis; • Alignment with the disciplinary scope of the course (exogeography, astropolitics, space economy); • Demonstrated capacity for independent research, also evidenced by performance in the Space Intelligence Lab.