The Space Race: The Privatization Of Space

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Introduction In the mid-20th century, after enduring multiple global conflicts that reconstructed the socio-economic and political divisions of our globe, humanity turned its gaze skyward, fascinated by the endless possibilities presented by the final frontier of the unknown: space. This fascination was fueled by intense geopolitical competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, as the two surviving superpowers raced to demonstrate technological and ideological superiority, masking their true tactical warfare desires. Influenced by the Soviet’s unprecedented advancements in space technology, NASA’s strategic decisions were heavily hindered and sheepishly followed in an effort to be on the Moon. As the 20th century concluded, space …show more content…

As humanity once again aims to explore further, racing to land a human on Mars, it’s crucial to analyze how competition between countries can foster ill-guided management and lead to catastrophic disasters, as seen historically during the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, and draw connections between the public and private space industry. This raises the question: How did the urgency and competitive pressure of the Space Race shape NASA's strategic decisions, potentially leading to human negligence and suboptimal outcomes in space exploration, and how have these decision-making processes evolved since the onset of the privatization of the space industry? Exigence: A Critical Lens In this essay, the privatization of space exploration will be critically investigated, delineating how the privatization of this industry is leading toward a dangerous erosion of safety standards and ethical oversight, mirroring the pitfalls of government-based space entities. Acting as for-profit businesses, private space companies have adopted profit-driven motives that prioritize speed and cost-cutting over the welfare of astronauts and the long-term sustainability of space

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