The Second Space Race

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The Second Space Race refers to the current and future endeavor for space dominance among the world powers, namely the United States, China, the European Union, Russia, Japan, and India. Although these efforts do not resemble a conflict in a conventional military sense, national security, defensive capability, and technological superiority does and will continue to provide an impetus for competition, especially when considering the significant role which satellites play in command and control, weapons-targeting, and reconnaissance. Notwithstanding the technological and military aspects of this drive for the ever-higher ground, national pride and economic impulses are also unable to be excluded as major contributing factors.

The phrase, "second space race" has also been used to refer to the race to profit from space tourism.[1]

Contents

[edit] Satellite launch and space probes

Several world powers are developing or perfecting their satellite launch capability. At the same time, Japan and China are involved in the exploration of Asteroids and Mars.

[edit] Orbital Human Spaceflight

Russia and the United States were involved in Human spaceflight since the 1960s and currently cooperate along with ESA and JAXA in the ISS project. Nevertheless, there are projects from the latter organizations to develop their own autonomous orbital capacity. After 2003, China achieved such capacity and is developing an ambitious plans that involve the building of a spacestation. India is following a path similar to China, and has a project to orbit an inhabited spacecraft. Other countries have limited astronaut training programs, that will then fly on foreign spacecraft, usually the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to a stay on the ISS. Private space fliers, or space tourists, also have access to the ISS through the Russian space agency.

[edit] Shenzhou spacecraft (China, 1992-ongoing)

Shenzhou is a spacecraft from the People's Republic of China which first carried a Chinese astronaut into orbit on 2003-10-15. Development began in 1992, under the name of Project 921-1. The Chinese National Manned Space Program was given the designation Project 921 with Project 921-1 as its first significant goal. The plan called for a manned launch in October 1999, prior to the new millennium.

[edit] Project Constellation (USA, 2004-ongoing)

Project Constellation is NASA's successor to the Space Shuttle. It consists of a family of new spacecraft, launchers and associated hardware that allow for a variety of space mission, from International Space Station resupply, to lunar landings.

[edit] Virgin Galactic (UK (privately funded), 2004-ongoing)

Virgin Galactic is a company within Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which is developing spacecraft in conjunction with Scaled Composites to offer sub-orbital spaceflights and later orbital spaceflights to the paying public.

[edit] Crew Space Transportation System (ESA/Russia, 2006-ongoing)

Crew Space Transportation System (CSTS) is a joint project by the European Space Agency and the Russian Space Agency (Roskosmos) with the objective to design a spacecraft for LEO operations such as servicing the International Space Station, but also capable of exploration of the Moon and beyond.

[edit] Indian human spaceflight program (India, 2006-ongoing)

This program aimed India to be a new space superpower with plans to launch its own astronaut in 2014-2015.

[edit] Moon

The Moon is again the main subject of interest, with many nations involved in robotic exploration missions and planning future manned landings. Japan's Kaguya orbiter and China's Chang'e 1 can be considered as significant steps in the Second Space Race. Future developments will feature Lunar Rovers and sample return missions. The Unites States are planing a human landing and establishing of a Moon base after 2020.


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