Comparing Space Actors: An Empirical Assessment

This chapter presents an analysis of the original empirical data collected in light of our theoretical framework. It presents a comparison of major space actors within the two prominent dimensions of capacity and autonomy along with a detailed analysis of the related subdimensions. The actors selected have been among the most active in space in the past decade and have attracted the most attention from general media outlets, practitioners, and scholars alike. They are Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Israel, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and United States. Building on the results of the measurement exercise, the chapter ultimately provides a comparative assessment of the status and relative position held by the analysed actors within the spacepower matrix.