New Space Race Must Be Run Together

Artemis Accords reps Representatives of Artemis Accords signatories met in Milan during the International Astronautical Congress in October to discuss progress on implementing the various principles of the Accords. (credit: UAE Space Agency) The new space race must be run together by Aline Spyrka Monday, November 11, 2024 Bookmark and Share Sixty years ago, the United States embarked on a great space race with the Soviet Union. The new space race is different this time. China, Russia, and the US are the frontrunners, joined by emerging space states who want a say in the future of space exploration. The US must establish peaceful international precedents in space. It must reject destructive satellite systems and the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. Eighty countries have a presence in space. Space exploration offers humanity a platform to confront some of our most pressing challenges. From enhancing global communication to climate change research, space has sourced innovation and development. Preserving national security, commercial access, and sustainability in space is paramount for US interests. To remain a leader in space will require the United States to collaborate with international allies and partners. The only way forward is together. The idea of space as a global commons is disappearing. Spheres of influence, claims on territory, alliances, and conflicts will take shape in space just as occurred on Earth. The international community has failed so far to establish rules to regulate this competition. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 is out of date. It has gaps in addressing arms control, non-traditional actors, governance, labor, environmental impact, access, and commercial activity. Without laws governing human activity in space, the possibilities for conflict are astronomical. The United States and Japan recently reached an agreement advancing bilateral space cooperation. This dialogue represents a shared commitment to working with the international community towards secure and sustainable outer space. Conversations like these point the way to broader international agreement. National security is always a US priority and in space it is no different. The US must establish peaceful international precedents in space. It must reject destructive satellite systems and the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. As the era of the International Space Station draws to a close, the United States will need to lead new efforts at collaboration and diplomacy to ensure space remains peaceful and secure. The international community also needs to consider environmental implications of space exploration. Space debris is a first-order threat. Industry leaders explore space in ways previously unknown to humankind. Can you imagine viewing the Earth from a spaceship? Space partnerships with the private sector have provided breakthroughs for life on Earth: satellite network projects are integrating remote communities into the global economy. Governments, for their part, must require private companies to comply with regulations to ensure safety. The international community also needs to consider environmental implications of space exploration. Space debris is a first-order threat. Other threats include solar radiation, hazardous chemical levels in the upper atmosphere, and light pollution that may hinder future discovery. Global regulation is needed to ensure space sustainability. The present pace of growth in the space sector is unsustainable. Proposed megaconstellations could throttle competition and innovation. To mitigate the difficult unknowns of space exploration, the United States must continue intense communication with the private sector and global partners. We need to create policy to ensure that no one company or country dominates a particular orbit. We need a new set of rules and a better understanding of the space they govern. The US must call upon the global community and emerging space states to forge the path to the final frontier in a responsible and sustainable way. In this new space race era, it is imperative that the international community adopts a united, diplomatic approach towards securing our space frontier. The only way forward is together. Space is for everybody. Aline Spyrka is a graduate student at George Washington University's Elliott School for International Affairs.