In this second episode of the Space Security and Safety (SSS) Program Informational Space Policy Video series—the Strauss Center’s Brumley Fellow for the SSS program, Alyssa Goessler dives into the geopolitics of the International Space Station. Alyssa describes some of the earliest political tensions surrounding the ISS and explains how, despite these early tensions, it has been successfully used as a unique tool of diplomacy. She also discusses how the potential retirement of the ISS in the near future might impact space internationalism. Watch the full video here. 

Sources:

https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/01/space-station-20-years-anniversary/

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/space-station-20th-historical-origins-of-iss

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-first-commercial-destination-module-for-international-space-station

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-esa-choose-astronauts-for-spacex-crew-3-mission-to-space-station

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-international-partners-advance-cooperation-with-first-signings-of-artemis-accords

https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-artemis-accords-deep-space-exploration-moon-mars-asteroids-comets-2020-10#:~:text=China%20and%20Russia%20haven’t%20signed%20on%20to%20NASA’s%20new,unify%20how%20humanity%20explores%20space&text=Seven%20countries%20signed%20on%20to,Emirates%2C%20and%20the%20United%20Kingdom.&text=China%20and%20Russia%20are%20not%20on%20board%20yet.