ABSTRACT
The concluding chapter, Chapter 8, reflects on the central research questions of this book, considering the ways in which cultural and political understandings of outer space emerged in Britain since the start of the twentieth century and how these understandings are relevant in the twenty-first century. Highlighting the main findings of each chapter, a series of reciprocities are identified as key to understanding the geographies of outer space in this context; between science and the imagination, Earth and cosmos, explorative and contemplative modes of engagement. Two final case studies are presented that demonstrate how these themes are extended into the twenty-first century. These are, firstly, the establishment of new space-launch facilities in various parts of the UK, amid the commercialisation and militarisation of outer space and, secondly, the conceptual art of Katie Paterson, which draws from the traditions of the sublime in western culture to consider the nature of outer-space phenomena and the place of humankind in the cosmos. The chapter further reflects on the role of geography in understanding outer space, considering the spectrum of perspectives offered by geographical understandings, while drawing attention to potential new areas of research.
