'Democratizing space' is more than just adding new players

by Timiebi Aganaba, Adam Fish, Deondre Smiles, Tony Milligan, The Conversation

S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, announced in August 2023 that "India is on the moon." The announcement meant India had joined the short list of countries to have visited the moon, and the applause and shouts of joy that followed signified that this achievement wasn't just a scientific one, but a cultural one.

Over the past decade, many countries have established new space programs, including multiple African nations. India and Israel—nations that were not technical contributors to the space race in the 1960s and '70s—have attempted landings on the lunar surface.

With more countries joining the evolving space economy, many of our colleagues in space strategy, policy ethics and law have celebrated the democratization of space: the hope that space is now more accessible for diverse participants.

We are a team of researchers based across four countries with expertise in space policy and law, ethics, geography and anthropology who have written about the difficulties and importance of inclusion in space.

Major players like the U.S., the European Union and China may once have dominated space and seen it as a place to try out new commercial and military ventures. Emerging new players in space, like other countries, commercial interests and nongovernmental organizations, may have other goals and rationales. Unexpected new initiatives from these newcomers could shift perceptions of space from something to dominate and possess to something more inclusive, equitable and democratic.

Continuing inequalities among space players

Not all countries' space agencies are equal. Newer agencies often don't have the same resources behind them that large, established players do.

The U.S. and Chinese programs receive much more funding than those of any other country. Because they are most frequently sending up satellites and proposing new ideas puts them in the position to establish conventions for satellite systems, landing sites and resource extraction that everyone else may have to follow.

Environmental protection and Indigenous perspectives

Usually, building the infrastructure necessary to test and launch rockets requires a remote area with established roads. In many cases, companies and space agencies have placed these facilities on lands where Indigenous peoples have strong claims, which can lead to land disputes, like in western Australia.

Many of these sites have already been subject to human-made changes, through mining and resource extraction in the past. Many sites have been ground zero for tensions with Indigenous peoples over land use. Within these contested spaces, disputes are rife.

Because of these tensions around land use, it is important to include Indigenous claims and perspectives. Doing so can help make sure that the goal of protecting the environments of outer space and Earth are not cast aside while building space infrastructure here on Earth.

What is space exploration for?

Before tackling issues such as representation and environmental responsibility, we must evaluate the larger goal of space exploration. The question ultimately arises: What is the purpose behind these cosmic endeavors?

Conclusion

The future of space exploration lies in collaborative efforts that bridge different perspectives and encourage sustainable practices. The diversity of opinions and collective responsibility will define the ethical landscape of our ventures into the final frontier.