| Publication |
2011.
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| Summary/Abstract |
A void has existed within the social sciences for over fifty years since the launch of the first Sputnik satellite in October 1957. This void delineates the boundaries of a missing field, a discipline capable of focusing on the relationship between social life and outer space. It is true that social scientists have pursued space issues over the last thirty years or so. As individuals, they have participated in the areas of search for extraterrestrial intelligence research, astrobiology, space policy, and space history. The strength of astrosociology, however, lies in its formalization of this type of approach into an identifiable field of study, which allows for a more organized and inclusive opportunity for participation. As a starting point, one may express the relationship between social life and outer space as astrosociology. One can define astrosociology as the study of social, cultural, and behavioral patterns related to outer space. The purpose of this article is to provide a general framework for more precise language concerning the definition, scope, character, and future development of astrosociology, while simultaneously attempting to elicit a broader discussion of astrosociology's association to other disciplines. It suggests how the various fields and disciplines associated with astrosociology as a multidisciplinary field can work together to build a missing body of knowledge from their related literatures and contemporary research.
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