ISPL Dictionary of Space Terminology

Sunday, January 24th, 2021

The London Institute of Space Policy and Law (ISPL) is delighted to announce the compilation of the “ISPL Dictionary of Space Terminology”.

The growing importance of space and its multidisciplinary nature engages policymakers, academics, space agencies, businesses, engineers and others domestically and internationally. Clear communication among them is vital to the establishment of efficient and responsible use of outer space. 

In the absence of an exhaustive, reliable reference document for space sector terms and the involved actors’ different disciplinary and cultural backgrounds, there is considerable potential for inadvertent misunderstanding or misinterpretation of terms. A comprehensive, well-researched ISPL Dictionary of Space Terminology will advance clear communication among space actors, greater international co-operation and avoidance of mission delays or failure.

The Dictionary will be an authoritative guide to current domestic and international interpretations of space terms and provide practical terminology for future use. 

The first version of the Dictionary will be in English and focus on standard space policy and law terms used in the United Kingdom, China, Germany, India, Japan, the USA, the European Space Agency and the United Nations. It will be regularly updated, adding further countries and scientific, technical and other terms employed in the space sector.

ISPL’s faculty of leading experts and its extensive international network will be engaged to advance this project. We will make the Dictionary available to a broad audience. 

The first edition is planned for completion in late 2021, but definitions of the most important terms will appear earlier.

Project lead: Dr Christoph Beischl

For enquiries please contact: Dictionary@space-institute.org