The Final Frontier: An Examination of the Relationship Between Global Space Powers

This research examines the relationship between space policies implemented at the domestic and international level and how they affect the relationship between countries with space programs. In order to examine this relationship, this project will look at policies implemented and supported by Russia, China, France, India, and the United States as case studies. The time period begins at the start of each of their space programs and goes until the late 2020s. This research hypothesizes that if nations deploy and support space policies that promote the overall peaceful use of outer space, then countries will increase their cooperation with each other on matters relating to space science. After examining how a country's support or implementation of space policies, the results show that the hypothesis is mostly correct for countries who did not previously have intensely hostile relations prior to the implementation of certain space policies. Those countries with a history of geopolitical issues, mostly relating to national security, will be less likely to cooperate on matters relating to space science, even if they support and implement peaceful space policies.