Spacepower in the Second Space Age

This book investigates how the processes of commercialisation and democratisation of space have impacted the development of spacepower within the context of the “Second Space Age”.

The main characteristic of the “Second Space Age” is the relative detachment of the bulk of human space activities from the goals and aims of governments. In essence, it means that we live in a time when commercial activities shape, to a great extent, the patterns of utilisation of outer space. This book recognises spacepower not only as a tool wielded by a nation-state for its own purposes but also as an attribute of the whole nation, not necessarily under the direct control of the state authority. The volume presents a theoretical model of spacepower that defines the terms structural spacepower, national spacepower and commercial spacepower to characterise the nature of spacepower in the Second Space Age. Subsequently, it also outlines procedures for measuring and comparing the spacepower of individual actors and nations.

This book will be of interest to students of space power, strategic studies, air power, and International Relations.