What are the impacts of space exploration on international relations?

Space exploration has had significant impacts on international relations, both positive and negative. On the positive side, space exploration has brought countries together to collaborate on missions and share scientific knowledge. The International Space Station is a prime example of international cooperation, with multiple countries working together to construct and maintain the station. Space exploration has also sparked scientific and technological advances that have benefited the entire world.

However, space exploration has also led to competition and tensions between countries. The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War was a prime example of this. The competition between these two superpowers to achieve space milestones such as the first human in space and the first person on the moon was driven in part by political and military motivations.

Today, countries continue to compete in space exploration, with China and India emerging as major players. The US has also recently formed the Space Force, a branch of the military dedicated to space operations, which has been viewed by some as a sign of increasing militarization of space. However, there are also ongoing efforts to promote international cooperation in space exploration, such as the Artemis Accords which aim to establish common principles for exploration and use of resources on the moon.