The Institutional Scientific Student Association competition results were announced on 14 December 2022. The institutional event, organized every year, was launched this year in all the faculties of the University of Public Service, where students could submit entries on various topics, including military science, political sciences, and international relations. In addition, this year's entries included several papers on space-related scientific issues, such as space policy, space law, and space research.
András Prilenszky presented his paper "Space policy of China and the United States - or with whom should the European Space Agency cooperate in space?" at the Faculty of Military and Defence Studies in the International Relations section, was awarded first prize and the Deputy Academic Dean's Prize. Orsolya Jászfalvi at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies received a special prize in the International Studies section for her work named “International cooperation in space - The challenges of the space stations today”, and Henriett Tóth was awarded in the International Studies section for her paper on “Relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China in the cislunar space”.
András Prilenszky on his topic
My paper for the Institutional Scientific Student Association competition, entitled "Space policy of the United States and China - or with whom should the European Space Agency cooperate in space?", was inspired by the competitive processes between the two most significant powers of our time, the United States and China. Since the beginning of the space race in 1957, we have known that space programs and space activities can impact the whole world, and this has become even more true in the 21st century with globalization. As a result, many states are beginning to develop and build their own space industries, often working in partnership with others to pursue their ambitions. Space policy affects the diplomatic, economic and military sectors and therefore plays a cardinal role in the functioning of the state. The demonstration of power, prestige and potential financial benefit associated with successful space activities clearly shows the value of a state in building a space environment whose decision-making processes require a space policy presence. The main question of my work has been to explore the role of Europe and the European Space Agency and to seek answers to the question with whom the European Space Agency should cooperate in the future to make its activities viable, sustainable, and safe.
Orsolya Jászfalvi on her topic
Nowadays, manned spaceflight has become an integral part of the space activities of some countries, for which they need to provide the necessary conditions, such as transportation (spacecrafts and launch vehicles) and space stations for long-term stays in space. With regard to the latter, we can mention the facilities created by one country or within the framework of international cooperation, since we can find examples of both today. In the course of the research, I investigated the challenges that space-based intergovernmental cooperations, especially space stations, are facing today, and then sought to confirm or refute the three hypotheses on the subject. I was able to underline the transformation of the alliance system currently operating in space, as Russia, one of the parties to the intergovernmental agreement of the International Space Station, will not continue this partnership after the ISS is no longer operational, and it has a bilateral agreement with China about establishing the International Lunar Research Station. In addition to the countries, the cooperations nowadays also involve various private companies. With regard to the new space race, I have found that it is easy for states' own interests to come to the fore, but cooperations aren’t completely overshadowed by that. Finally, I was also able to confirm the hypothesis that the operation of space stations will remain an essential part of human spaceflight, since, among other things, the currently planned expeditions to the Moon and Mars will require astronauts to be able to stay in space for long periods and I also added that the private companies’ presence in space will remain defining.
Henriett Tóth on her topic
In this new chapter of interstellar conquest, the value of the cislunar space is at it’s highest. No human has been to the Moon since 1972, but that does not mean that there is no such ambition nowadays. Ever the start of the space race during the Cold War, the United States is an indispensable player when it comes to the space sector, while the interstellar program of People’s Republic of China gradually gaining respect. Mankind’s return to the Moon is essential to establish its long-lasting presence in space, but we cannot neglect the potential benefits in the field of economics and research. With the emergence of the private sector, there are new participants next to the space agencies, but the relevant documents of the space laws are only partially regulating this area, and the major nations involved have different interpretation of those decrees. The aforementioned nations have realized the untapped potential of the Moon and created detailed programs to achieve their ambitions. Polarization can be seen in this sector and the political processes strongly influence cooperation between the actors. My thesis introduces and compares the Artemis program led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) created by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). I also include the results achieved by each nation and their relations in the context of space.
The results of the institutional round and the prizes will qualify for the national competition, which will take place in the spring of 2023, where our students will compete with their works on the same theme.