Russia space program

The septuagenarian space port proves as reliable as ever, but geopolitics and funding mean that its future at the forefront of space exploration is far from guaranteed.

Bringing the nuclear element into space, be it a nuclear weapon or a nuclear-powered counterspace weapon, will have serious repercussions.

Amid worsening geopolitical dynamics and contested great power relations, even obvious good behavior needs to be spelled out clearly. 

Later this month, the two nations will each attempt to make a soft landing on the South Pole of the Moon. The missions will have implications for the two rival blocs now forming in space.

Integration between China and Russia’s satellite networks will have major implications for the United States.

Russia-U.S. cooperation in space shows that the China exclusion policy is motivated less by security risks than by a U.S. fear of losing its leadership position.

Rather than establish a separate space force, Russia has determined that space should be integrated with other aerospace assets.

Progress will probably require developing small, technical agreements given that big, all-encompassing agreements have proven too difficult under current international circumstances.

With their agreement, the partners are signalling an alternative to a U.S.-led order in space.

Even as the war of words continues, there will need to be practical measures to deal with the increasing threats to space.

The growing private space sector is beginning to create new energy and excitement about space.