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Space


Image Credit: Jeremy Thomas l Unsplash
Space. When the word arises, one would define and think of all things extraterrestrial, mystifying and galactical. Beyond the surface, however, is it too a space for diplomacy efforts, societal progress, and market potential? In this article, we’ll unpack exactly that.

While the notion of space pertaining to the universe could feel distant and detached from ‘earthly’ matters in general, happenings on the planet too vastly impact our collective trajectory and actions in space. With thousands of teams and eyes behind every astronaut, it is no wonder that collaboration is key in actualising space exploration. When diplomacy and politics resultantly come into the picture, then, what happens?
Timeline of the Space Race. Image Credit: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Patrick O'Neill Riley
Historically, despite being exclusive and distant from most of the population, space exploration has been an area where progress is viewed as collective on humanity’s front, and increasingly so as the notion of it becoming a means of finding alternative solutions becomes its key basis or purpose. The Cold War period saw the two key powers, both internationally and in space at that time, the United States (US) and Soviet Union (USSR) at odds, giving birth to a ‘space race’ between the two. It thus saw the origin of significant scientific development in the field and direct impacts on international relations, leading to reforms in the model for international cooperation pertaining to space as the Cold War era ebbed away.

Casting our view at the current plight of space exploration on the international stage, it can perhaps be said that the post-Cold War scene has evolved to see more balance in the field. Expanding from being an area of competition and domination, key governmental actors and countries have pitted resources and extend cooperation efforts, as developing countries newer to the field begin to step up and take on more roles. International space laws have been a contributing factor to these developments, integrating the new model of international cooperation that governs activities in space today. As both the world happenings unfold and the volume and vigour of space actors increase, new issues arise within the field, prompting space for enhanced collaboration and developments.


When diplomacy turns sour and cooperation goes awry, how does it translate into impacts on the work in space? The recent incidents of the snowball effects of the Russo-Ukraine conflicts, and the actions of the Russian state space agency Roscosmos in relation may tell us more. Following the imposition of sanctions on Russian corporations and trade early this year, Roscosmos threatened mid-year that it would halt cooperation with Western partners on the International Space Station and joint space projects. With the current international model work surrounding space exploration being centred around collaboration, and Roscosmos primarily managing the space station's propulsion control systems that keep it in orbit, such diplomacy discourse could certainly alter the trajectory of space projects moving forth.

It’s not all about the work in space, however. Back in Earth, space agencies have loads of teams working in tandem to send singular projects up in space. What has history shown on how societal norms has affected the composition of such teams? As a result of concerns over practicality, the female demographic has often been shunned from the space industry. Beyond typical STEM industry-wide stereotypes–often baseless–the space industry also has cited other reasons for the gender disparity contained. Without a marked improvement for over 30 years, women represent just 20-22 percent of the workforce. For that, seemingly reasonable explanations have been suggested: poorer performance levels during mentruation, and from the astronauts’ perspectives, health vulnerabilities to uterine and breast cancer, among others. Even after these women are taken in, NASA regulations dictate that women are only allowed half the duration of missions of men astronauts.

With that said, there have been momentous progress in the direction of women involvement. These mainly include ventures by women into outer space, such as Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s acknowledgement as the first women entering space. The designations have only widened in breadth, as women went on to either drive space shuttles (Eileen M. Collins), or enter space in different capacities (Mae C. Jemison as the first black woman in space; Helen Sharman as the first woman space traveller).

One could still argue that there was no meaningful value in these participations. In the 20-22 percent mentioned previously, those that did not “break records” and make headlines would be working deep behind-the-scenes, without much recognition for the value they bring to the space industry as a result of them being women (except for the press recognition, of course). As an example, the core team of 450 responsible for the launch of 1969’s Apollo 11 consisted of ONE woman. What happened to 20%?

Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS). Image Credit: NASA
Those assertions would have been true, until the Artemis I project. The mission with the purpose of testing out heat shield capabilities made a successful launch on November 16, 2022, and is still steadily in orbit at time of writing. Beyond the extensive hype over scientific breakthroughs, the progress for womens’ involvement in space was even more notable.

Most significantly, the launch director, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, was the first ever woman to oversee the process. This was a critical moment, not only because it reflected the industry’s belated trust in women to execute such events, but more importantly, it signified a turning point of women’s involvement in space.

You see, in the past, women were roped into the industry without good reason. These physical limitations always existed, and instead of working around them, they simply minimised them by choosing the women who had the strongest physical fitness, often calibrated to male standards. As such, women themselves did not value-add to the industry based on their unique features; but they were simply force-fitted there through increased selectiveness.

Artemis, however, showed a different narrative. Instead of bundling women, who biologically are less adept, to physically demanding missions, the industry decided to tap on those unique features of women – meticulousness, dedication and leadership, among others.

It no longer expected women to perform jobs typically cut out for women; instead, it assigned jobs cut out for women, to women.

The benefits of such targeted employment were noticeable. The dedication and level of detail paid was exemplified by Blackwell-Thompson’s decision to cancel the launch, citing the reason as a temperature issue – they could not adjust the temperature of an engine to optimise launch. Such attention to detail reflects Blackwell-Thompson’s competency, and one may wonder if it comes with a woman spearheading the job – Blackwell-Thompson has been widely described as an extremely dedicated leader.

Apart from being an industry of glass ceilings waiting to be broken, the markets space exploration and development pertain to hold immense potential. Space services for Earth applications provide data from three broad categories: communications, position, navigation and timing (PNT), and Earth observation and Earth science.

Beyond being an active player in social progressivism, space also offers directly tangible economic benefits. The space-for-earth economy, which entails different goods and services produced in space for earth’s consumption, accounts for roughly 95% of the $469 billion that the general space economy was worth in 2021.

The products that come from space are much more ubiquitous yet critical than most would imagine – beyond the groundbreaking space tourism ventures and inhabitable planet exploration, everyday products like our Global Positioning System (GPS) are derivatives of space infrastructure as well.

Generally, space services for use on earth can be categorized into three aspects: communications, navigation, and science.

Illustration of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites alongside the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope. Image Credit: NASA
Space-to-earth communications systems mainly involve radio transmissions (the other type being laser communications). These include radio station satellite systems, as well as, more recently, the advent of satellite phones, which provide more geographically extensive coverage than traditional cell towers, and added information security.

The space-for-earth economy is estimated today to have a direct impact on 120 million users, and is expected to double by 2030 due to its effectiveness. Consistently successful R&D has also significantly reduced start-up costs, making space technology investments much more accessible. As such, the private sector has proliferated in the historically government-driven industry, having generated $224 billion in 2021.

Behind these numbers, the industry wields significant soft power. As the human quest into space is undeniably a global undertaking, both exploration and civil applications of space work as easily-amplified, high-profile platforms to exercise soft power. This can be attributed to three key reasons.

Chang’e-4 lander. Image Credit: CLEP/CNSA
One, space exploration functions as an effective spotlighting tool, functioning as ways of signifying significant values and indicating dynamic changes in diplomacy efforts. To name a few for example, the naming of a series of Chinese space missions as ‘Chang'e’ draws reference to the country’s folklore, and following devolving relations with NASA, Russia has begun alignment on cooperation in space with China, making plans to create a joint research base.

Illustration of Apollo-type spacecraft (left) about to dock with a Soviet Soyuz-type spacecraft (right). Image Credit: NASA
Two, the largely quantised and quantified nature of work relating to space allows for visible milestones and expansive opportunities to leverage on. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, where millions around the world watched on television as a US Apollo spacecraft docked with a Soviet Soyuz capsule, is an example of the first two points. With an audience of millions that watched the two rival superpowers at the time successfully carry out a mission of cooperation in space, the joint mission importantly signalled both the nations’ diplomacy and multilateral values of space.

Illustration shows how SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet constellation beams broadband access. Image credit: Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library
Three, the immense possibilities that exploration poses and broad civil applications of space encourage cooperation across a multitude of areas, providing extensive options on collaboration, as the industry’s sectors begin expanding on societal and humanitarian aspects. For example, SpaceX's Starlink is providing internet access to parts of Ukraine, allowing civilians to share their stories to the world, and billionaires have begun becoming faces of the industry, entering the world of media.

As we continue our expansion on the sphere of human influence into space, let us continue going beyond the surface, and deep within to realise its full value and potential.

 

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