NATIONAL-ORIENTED SCOPE IN SPACE POLICY: FACTS AND TRENDS

摘要

At the beginning of space age only two countries were main actors in the new emerging scenario. A strong national oriented scope prevailed in both cases along the aims and the programmes respectively pursued. This competition -besides their scientific and technical features- was also supported by ideological and political local premises. Other nations were almost watching at such a dispute from the other side of the fence. Few examples of early efforts of third countries to carry on incipient space activities were mainly based on the idea of preserving national sovereignty. Once space race was over, an extensive range of opportunities encouraged a number of countries to come into some kind of space activity, according to each own local capacity. Therefore, from the analysis of the national dimension of space development, it seems pertinent to examine these 50 years which have passed, their resultant trends and potential future developments. Led by the willingness of presenting an example of strategic thinking, the author gives preference to an assertive approach, based on a rough vision about factual issues, rather than a detailed, data supported survey. The usefulness of describing new trends and recent findings precisely consists of putting as early as possible one's thoughts on paper, aimed at favouring a wide discussion. The paper presents a comprehensive understanding of the global space environment, whose main features are related to the role played by nations acting as major ruling forces. The topic has taken particular relevance, since recent moves in the international space arena are showing an increasing trend towards reinforcing a national scope on space matters. Several hints like: late US space policy; the role of emerging countries; the "re-nationalization" process in some ESA countries; etc., suggested that some impacts could be expected from all those recent developments, affecting specific fields like international cooperation, space programmes, technology improvements or security.