Introduction
Among the factors that contribute to political superpower entitlements in the world, space exploration comes into perspective. Countries worldwide interested in becoming a superpower do not only target cultural and social diversification or economic dominance but also stage the battlefield millions of kilometers away from the Earth's surface. This battle for supremacy entailed the investigation of the universe employing uncrewed spacecraft and crewed spacecraft and using the information gained from this exploration to expand the knowledge base of the cosmos and the benefits of humanity (Logsdon, 2020). Space exploration has a direct impact on the way and who the world will perceive as their superpower. This essay will expound on this perspective by giving an explanation to support this posit. The essay will build its defense from a historical background as it moves into the future.
Proof of Military Superiority
Defense and security of a nation is an aspect that any government holds dear to their hearts. A country will try by all means to take the known risks to ensure that its people are safe from external attack. This was always the critical motivation for the countries that ventured into space exploration. After World War II, the world engaged in a Cold Warn, and one of how the war was conducted was in the version of a space war. The Soviet Union was the first nation to make a move concerning space war it launched the Sputnik I in October 1957. This move sent Americans' hearts into worry and depression, including the federal agencies and the then-president, Eisenhower (Khan Academy, n.d.). The Soviet Union continued to gather momentum in its pursuit by launching two other artificial satellites, Sputnik II, and Sputnik III (Jha, 2017). This move forced the US to establish the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to counter the Soviet Union's force to threaten superpower privileges (Anderson, 2020). This space warfare was all about competition for space control rather than war-oriented targeting.
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This space war is not any different from the space war of the current age, which has the potential of occurring, only that there are treaties signed to prevent escalations. Many countries have come out to challenge the long-ruling world superpowers (USA and Russia). Some countries like North Korea, India, and China are investing heavily in space exploration (Dujnovic, 2018). These countries do not just want to control the Earth's surface but also in space. For example, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on April 22, 2020, announced that it had successfully launched a military reconnaissance satellite. This was one military satellite that had joined a growing list of military systems and weapons in orbit. Other countries with a preceding military presence in space are Russia and the US (Ramin Skibba, 2020). According to Brian Weeden, the Secure World Foundation (SWF) director, these developments are a cause of concern because earthly conflict may lift their battlegrounds to new heights in space. This military capabilities upgrade includes spacecraft disruptors and satellite-destroying technologies and weapons that can block data transmission and collection (Campbell, 2019). If these technologies are launched, the world will witness an arms race that may result in skirmishes in space. It is common for every war that the winner always reigns supreme, but after a very long struggle, many casualties may be claimed. The winning nation, be it the US, China, Russia, or India, will become a political superpower in return.
Knowledgebase enhancement
Apart from gaining bragging rights from a sophisticated military presence in space, political superpower nations can also earn this title through their knowledge about outer space. Ingenuity, coupled with knowledge, offers people around the globe new solutions to problems and useful services and products. The knowledge obtained from space exploration plays a vital role in giving us new perspectives about our universe. Future space exploration goals include the sending of robots into space to collect information about features on the moon, asteroids, and other planets apart from Earth instead of actual human beings (ISECG, 2017). The reason for using this venture is because of the presumed danger that such environments may pose to human beings, while at the same time meet the most challenging and ambitious space exploration challenges. A country enriched with experts who can conduct research and build these robots that can be used to explore beyond the Earth's atmosphere in a safer manner stand a chance to compete with other nations that seek to secure a political superpower state. This is a reputation that India brags about. The country had the privilege to send its citizens to train with both the Russian scientists and American scientists during the space war (Davenport, 2019). These individuals got a blend of knowledge, which has helped them develop rapidly in space exploration matters. India might soon challenge this elusive position as it has already launched a spacecraft on the lunar surface. It is working frantically to explore far beyond by creating robots to handle these tasks. A country with a lucrative knowledgebase can challenge for global political power.
Innovation
Space exploration has and will continue to open opportunities for new technological innovations. In the future, these innovations will directly impact various sectors, including energy, healthcare, search-and-rescue systems, to mention a few. Space exploration will open up opportunities for other technology domains to conduct joint research programs that will focus on eradicating some of the world's problems and challenges like waste management and recycling, energy storage, power generation, advanced robotics, and transportation. Pre-existing space gadgets are out of date and less cost-effective (ISECG, 2017). Innovation in this field will help upgrade these objects like satellites to make them more efficient and cost-effective. A country embodied with such innovative practices will be tough to beat compared to other countries that cannot engage in such activities (Pew Research Center, 2018). Consequently, these embodied countries will have more influence in global matters concerning allies, thus opening an opportunity to exercise their political power and dominance.
Economic Avenue for growth
Besides, there is a possibility that space exploration will have economic relevance to people on Earth. Science has claimed before that there is a possibility that planet Mars can sustain life. This posit, though not yet proven, has put the countries interested in space exploration on toes. These countries are working hard to make this dream a reality by conducting research and making arrangements to visit this planet. Such a venture will open the opportunity to dominance in such unexploited places. How will it feel that a state like Arizona is sent to start life on Mars to create more space for redistribution? That is a sure taste of political power and dominance over other nations. In this case, the US shall have exhibited its capacity to take possible risks that help its citizens and, in turn, be a benchmark for other countries. Besides, private institutions have started projects that are purposed to use space for monetary value and not just for research alone (Sibia, 2017). For example, Jeff Bezos has begun a foundation to create a spacecraft that can be used to tour space. Upon its completion, his program, including the US as a country, shall have gained more superiority and power.
Conclusion
In conclusion, space exploration can be used as a metric for determining which country is more politically embodied to influence global opinions and grant political supremacy. A country can capitalize on various aspects like increasing military presence in the outer universe, expanding the knowledge base of space, coming up with innovations concerning area, among others, as mentioned in the body of the essay. Conclusively, such a country will tighten its grip on the lucrative political power position compared to other countries globally.
References
Logsdon, J. M. (2020, June 1). History of space exploration . https://www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration/History-of-space-exploration .
Jha, M. (2017, July 27). This is How the Space Race Changed the Great Power Rivalry Forever . The National Interest. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/how-the-space-race-changed-the-great-power-rivalry-forever-21690 .
Anderson, M. (2020, August 25). Americans divided on government's role in space exploration . Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/16/americans-divided-on-governments-role-in-space-exploration/ .
Ramin Skibba, U. (2020, July 12). The Ripple Effects of a Space Skirmish . The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/07/space-warfare-unregulated/614059/.
Davenport, C. (2019, July 25). Another front in the tensions between the U.S. and China: Space . The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/07/26/another-front-tensions-between-us-china-space/ .
ISECG, I. S. E. C. G. (2013). Benefits Stemming from Space Exploration 2013 . https://www.globalspaceexploration.org/?attachment_id=495 .
Dujmovic, J. (2018, January 28). China is becoming a space superpower, just like the U.S. MarketWatch. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-is-becoming-a-space-superpower-just-like-the-us-2018-01-24 .
Sibia, a. (2017). Business News . Business News, 5 Mar 2015 | 15 Minute News - Know the News. https://www.15minutenews.com/business/2015/03/05/ .
Pew Research Center, P. R. C. (2018, August 25). Majority of Americans Believe Space Exploration Remains Essential . Pew Research Center Science & Society. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2018/06/06/majority-of-americans-believe-it-is-essential-that-the-u-s-remain-a-global-leader-in-space/ .
Campbell, C. (2019, July 17). China Is Quickly Becoming a Space Superpower . Time. https://time.com/5623537/china-space/
