Student Written Articles

This article reviews the two major space blocs: the Artemis Accords and the ILRS (International Lunar Research Station). It examines how they bare similarities to historical space races, ideas of "land" ownership, and how terrestrial allegiances still have an effect on lunar exploration and excavation.

For decades, space was shaped by governments, science, and ambition beyond Earth. Now, private companies are turning orbit into a commercial frontier, and this opinion piece argues that innovation should not come at the expense of responsibility. The real solution is simple: no company should be allowed to profit from orbit without first proving it can leave orbit responsibly.

For centuries, space existed beyond the reach of private companies. Exploration of space was primarily the responsibility of governments, funded by taxpayers and justified through scientific discovery, national prestige, and geopolitical competition. Today, however, the entire system has changed. If a handful of corporations become the primary pioneers of human expansion beyond Earth, who will ensure that their actions serve the public interest?

Accidents are bound to happen with the over 15,000 satellites orbiting Earth, but who is responsible for paying for damages? Although the Liability Convention establishes rules for damages caused by space objects, only a few space collisions have resulted in formal compensation.

When people talk about exploring space, the focus is usually on science, technology, and the excitement of discovering something new. But as space travel becomes more advanced, another question has started to appear: Who owns space? And who gets to use the things we might find there, like minerals on asteroids or ice on the Moon?

Space exploration has been a goal that humans have pursued more actively since the 1960s. After all that has been achieved, it begs the question, what if we can take a bit of it back to Earth? Mining various celestial bodies can be great. However, along with the material benefits, mining raises several concerns.

The ISS has been a symbol of global cooperation for over 20 years. Now, as private companies take over Low Earth Orbit through NASA’s Commercial program, new challenges in safety and fairness arise. This article highlights the urgent need for international rules to protect our shared future in space.

As space exploration continues to grow and we venture deeper into space, our astronauts’ health must be a priority. Without those who make the exploration possible, there will be no exploration. This article argues for more protective measures against radiation and its effects on what makes up who we are—literally.

We speak of “colonizing Mars,” and “pioneering the Moon,” as if space is merely the next opportunity for human ambition. This article argues that if we are to venture beyond Earth, we must do so with intention, challenging the historical, colonial language we are carrying with us.

Reusable rockets have been at the forefront of a new technology advancement in spacecraft. This innovative push has been hurdled countless times due to the policies surrounding the technology and their attitude in not supporting it. Now, as private and public sector companies establish the presence of this technology, dramatic changes need to be made to the policy surrounding it for any substantial movement to occur within this field.

This article argues for the importance of protection measures against forward contamination and evaluates current international agreements, with a specific focus on U.S. policies in addressing this growing concern.

As the amount of global waste increases, some people have proposed an unconventional solution: throw our trash into space. This may seem like a simple solution to an exponential problem, but barriers such as cost, debris, and the possibility of launch failure prevent launching trash into space from being a feasible solution.

With the rapid expansion of space technologies, the need to tackle the issue of space junk intensifies. Fortunately, Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers ground-breaking solutions to tackle this issue, safeguarding our progress in space exploration and long-term sustainability.

While private corporations have accelerated the pace of space exploration, their disproportionate impact on space policy has reshaped decision-making at national and global levels—often prioritizing corporate interests over public accountability.