Space Nationalism

Context: An ongoing space race between global powers driven by nationalism (and military necessities) despite multinational collaborations is a result of competitive spirit. To be an influencer and leader.

Examples of Global Space Nationalism

• Mars Mission with National Agenda: initiated by several countries due to its significance in terms of searching for life, understanding its surface, and preparing for human exploration
  • Hope probe of United Arab Emirates projected it as the first “Arab-Muslim” nation to reach Mars.
  • Tianwen-1 of China: only after the US and the Soviet Union to land a spacecraft on Mars.
  • Perseverance Rover of United States would attempt to test the first powered flight at Mars.
• Apollo programme of U.S: objective was to beat Soviet Union to the Moon ´before decade is out.
• Unmanned and manned space programmes: While the US´ unmanned programmes are most advanced, China, Japan, and the European Union are way ahead of the rest.
  • Private firms like SpaceX are testing vehicles for manned missions, ending years of U.S. reliance on Russia.
• Military space exploration programmes: 
  • US and China are in a quiet competition for military advantage in space.
  • Russia is eager to restore its military space exploration capabilities to keep up with US and China.
    • For e.g. first Covid vaccine, Sputnik V, reminded the world of Sputnik I (the first artificial Earth satellite)
  • Turkey, Brazil, Iran, North Korea, and South Korea, has space launch programmes either in active or planning stage.
• Nascent ´space race´ between India and China: competing in the following space activities-
  • Moon (Chandrayaan and Chang´e projects).
  • Mars (Mangalyaan and Tianwen 1 projects).
  • Sending humans to space and building space stations.

Benefits of Space Programmes/Industry: potential benefits to humanity

• Food security: by combining imagery with weather can optimise farm yields.
• Greenhouse gas monitoring: by helping utilities develop renewable energy infrastructure by using predictive models.
• Better internet access: like SpaceX´s Starlink is a satellite internet constellation.
• Tertiary benefits: Advancements in hydrogen fuel cell technology, robotics, health care, and other disciplines; will improve technological base and military capabilities.
• Economic returns: Morgan Stanley estimates the global space industry can generate revenue of “more than $ 1 trillion or more in 2040, up from $350 billion, currently”.