served as the 12th NASA Administrator, making him only the second astronaut to hold that position. Bolden is the Founder & CEO Emeritus of The Charles F. Bolden Groupserved as United States Ambassador for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations after the President's nomination and the Senate's confirmation. Holliday is CEO of Meridian International Center, a leading non-partisan institution advancing global security and prosperity through effective leadership and diplomacy.
The space race of the 20th century, characterized by rivalry and high barriers to entry, has transformed. The playing field has widened and the absence of traditional gatekeepers in space opens unparalleled opportunities for collaboration. The United States now finds itself at the helm, steering an international coalition that includes traditional allies, emerging space nations, and innovative private entities, through the complex political terrain of outer space.
However, space is not a unipolar system, and rival coalitions and alternative norms are emerging across the Global South. The U.S. Department of State released its first Space Strategic Framework in 2023 and began their annual Space Diplomacy Week to expand the base of likeminded space faring nations and outlines how we can promote responsible behavior from all space actors. From a U.S.
Practical modern-day statecraft should follow the principle of open diplomacy—that governments alone cannot maintain relations with other nations. Global business executives, state and local leaders, scientists, and technologists must collaborate to shape international affairs. This also applies to space missions. Although astronauts are critical and often serve as the face of the mission, an entire supply chain got them there in the first place.