{"id":436525,"date":"2022-04-22T15:08:51","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/"},"modified":"2022-04-22T15:08:51","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:08:51","slug":"international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/","title":{"rendered":"#International divisions on Earth are being reflected in space cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a35fe50e126c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a35fe50e126c\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/#%E2%80%9CInternational_divisions_on_Earth_are_being_reflected_in_space_cooperation%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;International divisions on Earth are being reflected in space cooperation&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/#From_state-led_space_efforts_to_collaboration\" >From state-led space efforts to collaboration<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/#The_emergence_of_space_blocs\" >The emergence of space blocs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/#Race_to_the_Moon\" >Race to the Moon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/#The_impact_of_space_blocs_on_the_ground\" >The impact of space blocs on the ground<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/#The_role_of_private_space_companies\" >The role of private space companies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\/#Space_blocs_for_collaboration_or_conflict\" >Space blocs for collaboration or conflict<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CInternational_divisions_on_Earth_are_being_reflected_in_space_cooperation%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;International divisions on Earth are being reflected in space cooperation&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n                            Even <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/ia\/iiz190\">during times of conflict<\/a> on the ground, space has historically been an arena of collaboration among nations. But trends in the past decade suggest that the nature of cooperation in space is shifting, and fallout from Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted these changes.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/svetlabenitzhak.com\/\">I\u2019m an international relations scholar<\/a> who studies power distributions in space \u2013 who the main players are, what capabilities they possess and whom they decide to cooperate with. Some scholars predict a future in which <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/The-International-Politics-of-Space\/Sheehan\/p\/book\/9780415399173?source=igodigital\">single states<\/a> pursue various levels of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/Astropolitik-Classical-Geopolitics-in-the-Space-Age\/Dolman\/p\/book\/9780714681979\">dominance<\/a>, while others foresee a scenario in which <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/Security-and-Stability-in-the-New-Space-Age-The-Orbital-Security-Dilemma\/Townsend\/p\/book\/9780367432072?source=igodigital\">commercial entities bring nations together<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But I believe that the future may be different. In the past few years, groups of nations with similar strategic interests on Earth have come together to further their interests in space, forming what I call \u201cspace blocs.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-right zoomable\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter js-lazy\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" alt=\"A logo of the ISS surrounded by the flags of all the countries that support it.\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"A logo of the ISS surrounded by the flags of all the countries that support it.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458934\/original\/file-20220420-24727-sjkw6x.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><\/a><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">The International Space Station is the quintessential example of international collaboration in space.<\/span><br \/><span class=\"attribution\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"source\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:ISS_emblem.png#\/media\/File:ISS_emblem.png\">NASA via WikimediaCommons<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_state-led_space_efforts_to_collaboration\"><\/span>From state-led space efforts to collaboration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. and the Soviet Union dominated space activities during the Cold War. Despite tensions on the ground, both <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sup.org\/books\/title\/?id=31357\">acted carefully to avoid causing crises<\/a> and even <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/ia\/iiz190\">cooperated on a number of projects<\/a> in space.<\/p>\n<p>As <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/space.oscar.wmo.int\/spaceagencies\">more countries<\/a> developed their own space agencies, several international collaborative groups emerged. These include the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unoosa.org\/oosa\/index.html\">United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs<\/a>, the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unoosa.org\/oosa\/en\/ourwork\/copuos\/index.html\">United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space<\/a> and the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/public.ccsds.org\/default.aspx\">Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In 1975, 10 European nations founded the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esa.int\/\">European Space Agency<\/a>. In 1998 the U.S. and Russia joined efforts to build the International Space Station, which is now <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kennedyspacecenter.com\/blog\/the-20-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-the-international-space-station\">supported by 15 countries<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These multinational ventures were primarily focused on scientific collaboration and data exchange.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_emergence_of_space_blocs\"><\/span>The emergence of space blocs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The European Space Agency, which now includes 22 nations, could be considered among the first space blocs. But a more pronounced shift toward this type of power structure can be seen after the end of the Cold War. Countries that shared interests on the ground began coming together to pursue specific mission objectives in space, forming space blocs.<\/p>\n<p>In the past five years, several new space blocs have emerged with various levels of space capabilities. These include the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/au.int\/en\/treaties\/statute-african-space-agency\">African Space Agency<\/a>, with 55 member states; the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gob.mx\/sre\/en\/articulos\/signing-of-the-convention-establishing-alce-the-latin-american-and-caribbean-space-agency-283235?idiom=en\">Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency<\/a>, with seven member states; and the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/trends.aeroexpo.online\/project-75745.html\">Arab Space Coordination Group<\/a>, with 12 Middle Eastern member states.<\/p>\n<p>These groups allow for nations to collaborate closely with others in their blocs, but the blocs also compete with one another. Two recent space blocs \u2013 the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis-accords\/index.html\">Artemis Accords<\/a> and the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/china-russia-to-cooperate-on-lunar-orbiter-landing-missions\/\">Sino-Russian lunar agreement<\/a> \u2013 are an example of such competition.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-center zoomable\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter js-lazy\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" alt=\"Buzz Aldrin in a spacesuit on the surface of the Moon next to the U.S. flag.\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=606&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=606&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=606&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=761&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=761&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=761&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"Buzz Aldrin in a spacesuit on the surface of the Moon next to the U.S. flag.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=606&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=606&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=606&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=761&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=761&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458935\/original\/file-20220420-22-vcz8q0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=761&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><\/a><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">No human has been on the Moon in 50 years, but in the next decade, both the U.S.-led Artemis Accords and a Chinese-Russian mission aim to establish Moon bases.<\/span><br \/><span class=\"attribution\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"source\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Buzz_salutes_the_U.S._Flag.jpg\">NASA\/Neil Armstrong via WikimediaCommons<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Race_to_the_Moon\"><\/span>Race to the Moon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis-accords\/index.html\">Artemis Accords<\/a> were launched in October 2020. They are led by the U.S. and currently include 18 country members. The group\u2019s goal is to return people to the Moon by 2025 and establish a governing framework for exploring and mining on the Moon, Mars and beyond. The mission aims to build a research station on the south pole of the Moon with a supporting lunar space station called <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/gateway\/overview\">the Gateway<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, in 2019, Russia and China agreed to collaborate on a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/china-russia-to-cooperate-on-lunar-orbiter-landing-missions\/\">mission to send people<\/a> to the south pole of the Moon by 2026. This joint Sino-Russian mission also aims to eventually build a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/russia-china-moon-research-station-agreement\">Moon base and place a space station<\/a> in lunar orbit.<\/p>\n<p>That these blocs do not collaborate to accomplish similar missions on the Moon indicates that strategic interests and rivalries on the ground have been transposed to space.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis-accords\/index.html\">Any nation can join the Artemis Accords<\/a>. But Russia and China \u2013 along with a number of their allies on Earth \u2013 have not done so because some perceive the accords as an effort <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/artemis-accords-why-many-countries-are-refusing-to-sign-moon-exploration-agreement-148134\">to expand the U.S.-dominated international order<\/a> to outer space.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, Russia and China plan to open their future lunar research station <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/russia-china-moon-research-station-agreement\">to all interested parties<\/a>, but no Artemis country has expressed interest. The European Space Agency has even <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esa.int\/Newsroom\/Press_Releases\/Redirecting_ESA_programmes_in_response_to_geopolitical_crisis\">discontinued several joint projects<\/a> it had planned with Russia and is instead expanding its partnerships with the U.S. and Japan.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_impact_of_space_blocs_on_the_ground\"><\/span>The impact of space blocs on the ground<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In addition to seeking power in space, countries are also using space blocs to strengthen their spheres of influence on the ground.<\/p>\n<p>One example is the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.apsco.int\/\">Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization<\/a>, which was formed in 2005. Led by China, it <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/spacewatch.global\/2018\/11\/asia-pacific-space-cooperation-organisation-members-celebrate-tenth-anniversary\/\">includes<\/a> Bangladesh, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand and Turkey.<\/p>\n<p>While its broad goal is the development and launch of satellites, the organization\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/trends.aeroexpo.online\/project-75745.html\">major aim<\/a> is to expand and normalize the use of the Chinese BeiDou navigation system \u2013 the Chinese version of GPS. Countries that use the system could become dependent on China, as is the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/spacewatch.global\/2016\/11\/irans-growing-dependency-on-chinas-beidou-satellite-navigation\/\">case of Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_role_of_private_space_companies\"><\/span>The role of private space companies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"align-right zoomable\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter js-lazy\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" alt=\"A Falcon9 rocket launching off.\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=902&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=902&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=902&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1133&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1133&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1133&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"A Falcon9 rocket launching off.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=902&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=902&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=902&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1133&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1133&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/458936\/original\/file-20220420-17-5lvolu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1133&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><\/a><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">Private companies are now major players in space, but launches \u2013 like SpaceX\u2019s many missions \u2013 are still under the jurisdiction of the companies\u2019 home nations.<\/span><br \/><span class=\"attribution\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/nasakennedy\/49420609803\/in\/photostream\/\">NASA\/Tony Green<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There has been tremendous <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.morganstanley.com\/ideas\/investing-in-space\">growth of commercial activities in space<\/a> in the past decade. As a result, some scholars see a future of space cooperation defined by <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/Security-and-Stability-in-the-New-Space-Age-The-Orbital-Security-Dilemma\/Townsend\/p\/book\/9780367432072\">shared commercial interests<\/a>. In this scenario, commercial entities act as inter<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>ries between states, uniting them behind specific commercial projects in space.<\/p>\n<p>[<em><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/memberservices.theconversation.com\/newsletters?nl=science&amp;source=inline-science-corona-important\">Get The Conversation\u2019s most important coronavirus headlines, weekly in a science newsletter<\/a><\/em>]<\/p>\n<p>However, commercial enterprises are <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2022\/01\/11\/companies-are-commercializing-outer-space-do-government-programs-still-matter\/\">unlikely to dictate future international cooperation in space<\/a>. According to current international space law, any company that operates in space does so <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unoosa.org\/oosa\/en\/ourwork\/spacelaw\/treaties\/outerspacetreaty.html#:%7E:text=Article%20VIII,or%20on%20a%20celestial%20body\">as an extension of<\/a> \u2013 and under the jurisdiction of \u2013 its home nation\u2019s government.<\/p>\n<p>The dominance of states over companies in space affairs has been starkly exemplified through the Ukraine crisis. As a result of state-imposed sanctions, many commercial space companies have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/uk-satellite-company-oneweb-suspends-baikonur-launches-2022-03-03\/\">stopped collaborating<\/a> with Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Given the current legal framework, it seems most likely that states \u2013 not commercial entities \u2013 will continue to dictate the rules in space.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Space_blocs_for_collaboration_or_conflict\"><\/span>Space blocs for collaboration or conflict<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>I believe that going forward, state formations \u2013 such as space blocs \u2013 will serve as the major means through which states further their national interests in space and on the ground. There are many benefits when nations come together and form space blocs. Space is hard, so pooling resources, manpower and know-how makes sense. However, such a system also comes with inherent dangers.<\/p>\n<p>History offers many examples showing that the more rigid alliances become, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wcfia.harvard.edu\/publications\/understanding-global-conflict-and-cooperation-introduction-theory-and-history\">the more likely<\/a> conflict is to ensue. The growing rigidity of two alliances \u2013 the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trip<\/a>le Entente and the Triple Alliance \u2013 at the end of 19th century is often cited as the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wcfia.harvard.edu\/publications\/understanding-global-conflict-and-cooperation-introduction-theory-and-history\">key trigger<\/a> of World War I.<\/p>\n<p>A key lesson therein is that as long as existing space blocs remain flexible and open to all, cooperation will flourish and the world may yet avoid an open conflict in space. Maintaining the focus on scientific goals and exchanges between and within space blocs \u2013 while keeping political rivalries at bay \u2013 will help to ensure the future of international cooperation in space.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" class=\"js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/180221\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\"\/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/180221\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" class=\"\" srcset=\"\"\/><\/noscript><br \/>\n<em>This article by <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/svetla-ben-itzhak-1291540\">Svetla Ben-Itzhak<\/a>, Assistant Professor of Space and International Relations, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/air-university-4060\">Air University<\/a>, is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/space-blocs-the-future-of-international-cooperation-in-space-is-splitting-along-lines-of-power-on-earth-180221\">original article<\/a>.<\/em>\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/international-divisions-on-earth-are-being-reflected-in-space-cooperation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;International divisions on Earth are being reflected in space cooperation&#8221; Even during times of conflict on the ground, space has historically been an arena of collaboration among nations. But trends in the past decade suggest that the nature of cooperation in space is shifting, and fallout from Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted these changes&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":436526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/ISS-Space-international-cooperation.jpg&signature=2281eabdabb79c3fc8ebcb5de5680727","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-436525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=436525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/436526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=436525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=436525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=436525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}