The establishment of space brought attention to nations around the world. In particular two nations were very eager to compete. These two nations being the Soviet Union, which is present day Russia, and the United States. Both these nations were competing for an event known as the space race (“The Space Race”) Although China did not compete they are still a major nation (Masters). While these three are the main space giants there is an international space agency housing multiple other nation totaling 18. (Garcia). As stated before, the introduction of space brought two major nations to develop advanced technology in order to reach a common goal. So how does the introduction of space help spread globalization? Well, it is rare for nations whose relationships are not necessarily the best to help each other innovate the technological department. In essence, space brought the spread of new forms and methods to technology, politics, and various other regions of globalization.
The introduction of space brought along many creative and new innovations to the world. With this fact in mind, space really did help in spreading economic globalization. To define economic globalization, it would be “interconnectedness of economics through trade and the exchange of resources (“Types of”). During the space race, both the Soviet Union and the United States were competing with multiple goals in mind. The first goal was the first man in space. In this goal, Russia was ahead in developing sufficient technology that was sustainable for life to orbit around Earth. Russia had launched a capsule-like space craft into space named Vostok containing the first man to orbit Earth (“The Space Race”). Shortly after the United Stated developed a more efficient craft and sent the first American into space. As a result, the United States had lost this title. Humiliated, the president at the time, John F. Kennedy, announced the that the United States would be the first to land on the moon (“The Space Race”). The rest is history.
Once during satellite manufacturing, it noticeable that other nations had adopted innovation strategies rather than imitations (Hashmi 12). Sharing the ideas throughout nations is feature of globalization. A more modern invention not created by or even for space was Velcro. It is a swiss invention created by George de Mestral (“Invention of”). It is associated with NASA often, because it aided in simple task such as holding down materials (Dunbar). As NASA is meant for developing advance technology for space not all of its technology and inventions are used for space. In the article “Spinoff 2018” by Karen Northon, Northon describes NASA is invested in the future not alone space and air travel. In fact, NASA is responsible for creating companies, the growing economy, saving money, keep us safer, and saving lives (Northon). Either simple or complex, NASA has created nifty methods of their own technology to help the public. For example, a technique now helps to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and etc., which was intended to preserve plants in spacecrafts (Northon). It is intriguing to think that an idea that is meant for space could possible deal in matters of chemistry. In recent years, the approach toward space exploration has differ than that of those when introduced. In the past, space exploration was defined by sending humans into space and explore, but now artificial intelligence has taken over the exploration of space. There are many reasons for this fact such as cost (Slakey). The amount it cost for a single flight of space shuttle cost about $450 million (Slakey).
There are most likely moral and ethical issues affecting the decision affect why astronauts have been replaced with artificial intelligence, but as of now the cost for a man space craft is quite hefty in terms of financial support. Undoubtedly, space was a prime age for innovation and creativity. It excelled in the technological world and presented various opportunities for new inventions that were well rounded. Not to mention useful materials and gadgets or spinoffs so it is called, such as high-accurate materials testing and ultra-sensitive radar technology (Northon). One is used in everyday life and the other is not, yet they are equally important in their own situation. The radar technology is used to find and located individuals under either rubble or possible snow, meanwhile materials testing can be used in either development of sports shoes to jetliners (Northon). With technology comes money. It is already well known that nothing is truly free in the world. In terms of economy it is called opportunity cost. Similarly, that holds true even for space. There are two main factors that are involved when discussing space. One of these factors is time. Is it possible to create something within a necessary time frame? Time is unlimited but no for humans whether it is life expectancy or interest in the idea of space. The second factor happens to be money. Money is perhaps the most important resource on Earth itself. Without some sort of currency or exchange it would impossible to fund sufficiently enough to support these kinds of new ideas and missions. When put together the reason why space exploration has slowed down essentially to a halt is because the economical challenge it presents.
Technology was not the only form of globalization brought by space. In reality, space brought along various kinds including politics, and social globalization. To define those terms, in the article “Types of Globalisation”, “Political globalization refers to the co-operation between different and through countries” and “social globalization refers to the sharing of ideas and information between and through different countries”. It was estimated that in 2015 the political stability would have increase due to net contributions (Vedda 201). As mention before, the is an international partnership of space agencies from several other countries (Garcia). Because this is an international affair, it is quite difficult to operate efficiently. Every nation is responsible for their own parts among the shared grounds (Garcia). All participants of the agreement share the International Space Station or the ISS (Garcia). Although news about a new field of study had open it brought concerns. One of these concerns was equal rights because it provided lack of censorship and the caring to others pain and joy (Dudly-Flores and Gangle 3). The space industry also brought global value chains. These value chains where in partnership, science, tech and innovation, capital and finance, and human capital (Omelyanenko 117).
Overall, the establishment of space brought along countless opportunities to the world. It penetrated areas which are normally very complex on their own in modern society. Politics has always been a very controversial theme itself and especially among other nations, but space has allowed all the politics to collide in order to achieve a common ground on an unknown and potential futuristic goal. The reason for the contribution may be unknown, but assuming it will be for the betterment of the world. Although, it was not always as a group of nations assisting each other for new ideology; competition lead to sharing of ideas. As mentioned before there was a space that lead to the sharing and taking of new ideas from each individual. One nation would be able to, of course, be able to develop new ideas by themselves, but if that nation was also threatened or felt in that sort of way efficiency and determination would rapidly increase the progression.
Hence, the introduction of space provides many new aspects to globalization. The effects that space had on globalization influenced the three main types of globalization which were political, social, and economic globalization. Examples were all able to be provided in order to support the massive range that space has on the world, however space is highly controversial and relatively new and unknown, but because it is so vast it requires all to cooperate to discover its hidden mysteries. It is extremely difficult to comprehend the importance of space because it has infinite possibilities for the future, but at the cost of consequences as do all actions. It should be noted that as is still relatively knew and although it is still in development it had already meaningful and plentiful contributions on globalization. As a result of the introduction of space it should be considered one of the major forms of globalization in present day society.
