STRATEGIC

ANALYSIS

(^52) | AsiAn MilitAry review |
by Beth Stevenson
While much attention is paid by Asia-Pacific
nations to the maritime, land and air domains,
there is a push to develop space capabilities
across the region. These efforts are
manifesting themselves into a regional ‘space
race’ between rival nations.

STARSHIP ENTERPRISE

T

his space race reflects a similar

one played out during the Cold

War between the US and Soviet

Union that began in the 1950s

and aimed to showcase national

prowess and technological ingenuity

via increasingly ambitious space-based

goals, arguably culminating in the US’

Apollo programme which saw that

country send astronauts to the moon

between 1969 and 1972. While the Cold

War is now over, space exploration and

supremacy remain key aims for both

Space is important to nations

across the Asia-Pacific for a range

of reasons, including economic

advancement, sovereignty and

national defence, with capabilities

varying between different regional

powers.

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