AIA | Space Exploration & The National Interest

	Intro
	Truth in Space Budgeting
	The Real Connection
	Space and National Security
	Building International Alliances
	The Global Space Race
	The Mysteries of the Ecosystem
	About AIA
	Photo Credits

The Global Space Race

America's Asian and European competitors understand the strategic role of space exploration in building political and economic power.

China. The China National Space Administration's 20-year strategic plan calls for "international cooperation" to procure "more advanced (space development) technology from Western countries." Chinese authorities also plan to launch an unmanned lunar orbiter as a prelude to landing humans on the moon before 2020. Within the last two years, Chinese astronauts successfully completed two orbital missions.

Russia. In the post-Soviet era, Russia has decided to become an international energy and space power and has sought partnerships with China to advance this objective. In 2004 the third session of the Russo-Chinese Sub-commission on Space Cooperation agreed to the development of 13 "areas of civilian space," such as "remote space probing, space telecommunications systems, navigation, and land infrastructure." Russia also plans to double production of the manned Soyuz spacecraft.

India. India relies on civil space systems to solidify its position as a regional economic power in competition with China. Bypassing the arena of human space flight, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) focuses instead on satellite and launch vehicle capabilities. In recent years the ISRO managed two flights of a three-stage satellite launch vehicle and has activated nine "Indian National Satellites" for telecommunications services.

The European Union. EU officials have charged the European Space Agency to "mobilize public and private resources" behind space priorities because "whole sectors of human activity today depend on the use of space satellites and technologies." A 2003 European Commission policy paper established the Galileo navigation satellite network as the platform to determine "the best approach to public/private finance for future space projects."