Countries are forming competing ‘blocs’ in space

+ the perils of nonaligned countries in Ukraine war US Edition - Today's top story: Space Blocs: The future of international cooperation in space is splitting along lines of power on Earth [View in browser]( US Edition | 22 April 2022 [The Conversation]( Shortly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space program, began posting thinly veiled threats about crashing the International Space Station into Earth. Though NASA was quick to dismiss them, the tweets punctured a long-held – and perhaps naive – belief of mine that space was in some way immune to the realpolitik of Earth. But to Svetla Ben-Itzhak, a scholar who studies international relations in space, this was just the latest and most clear indication of a trend in space. Ben-Itzhak explains that in the past few years, as more countries have gained the ability to access space, “groups of nations with similar strategic interests on Earth have come together to further their interests in space, forming what I call space blocs.” Competition, rather than international collaboration, has begun to take hold. By the end of the decade, both a U.S.-led bloc called the Artemis Accords and a Russian and Chinese-led project hope to establish bases on the south pole of the Moon. As Ben-Itzhak explains, “That these blocs do not collaborate to accomplish similar missions on the Moon indicates that [strategic interests and rivalries on the ground have been transposed to space](.” Also today: - [People who oppose abortion may help others get one]( - [How Costa Rica has made ecotourism work]( - [Muslim Americans and giving]( Daniel Merino Assistant Science Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast [Space Blocs: The future of international cooperation in space is splitting along lines of power on Earth]( Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Air University In the past 10 years, international alliances on Earth have begun to expand into space. Nations with similar interests collaborate with one another while competing with other space blocs. Politics + Society - [As Ukraine war deepens great-power divisions, a revitalized non-aligned movement could emerge]( John Ciorciari, University of Michigan Not all nations have joined in a united front against Russia’s invasion. 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Hughes, IUPUI; Rafeel Wasif, Portland State University The kind of giving known as Zakat can include everything from donating to nonprofits to smiling at strangers. - [Opposition to abortion doesn’t stop some Americans from supporting friends and family who seek one]( Tricia C. Bruce, University of Notre Dame A sociologist found in her research that many Americans who are opposed to abortion may nonetheless be willing to support a friend or family member seeking one. Environment + Energy - [Protecting biodiversity – and making it accessible – has paid off for Costa Rica]( Alejandra Echeverri Ochoa, Stanford University; Jeffrey R. Smith, Princeton University Tourism revenues account for almost 10% of Costa Rica’s gross domestic product. New research shows that charismatic wildlife is necessary but not sufficient to attract ecotourists. 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