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The Globalization Of The International Space Station

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Kai Allen Donicht
Globalization and International Business
June 18 - July 7
Arunjana Das
7/27/15

The Globalization of the International Space Station

Abstract

Space exploration was born out of the intense competition between the two great superpowers of the 20th century. The space race was a byproduct of the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both sides devoted immense resources and manpower to attempt to surpass the other in astronautical achievement. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the approach towards space exploration changed dramatically. What began as a fierce competition between major powers became a partnership involving many nations working together. Space exploration projects, like the International Space Station, are only feasible through international joint effort, and because of this have helped to foster more cooperative relations between countries – not only diplomatically, but also economically.

Introduction
In 1986, the USSR launched its space station Mir in orbit. NASA proposed to construct a permanently manned orbiting space station in response. The US began building the space station Freedom, working with Canada, several European countries, and Japan as partners in the endeavor. Just as work on Freedom began, however, the Soviet Union collapsed. This presented an opportunity for the US to work with Russia in space rather than compete with them. Freedom was reengineered into the new International

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