The Importance of Aerospace Development in a Multipolar World

The year 2025 marks a radical shih in the balance of regional powers around the world. While the socioeconomic causes of this transformation are funda- mental and should not be ignored, the development of aerospace technologies represents a critical moment in this transitional stage. Innovations in satellite communication systems and their ground components have come to play a vital role in everyday life. Technologies such as real-time global positioning systems (GLONASS, GPS, GALILEO and BeiDou) have become strategic tools that drive global connectivity.
On the other hand, in the aerospace industry, the development of advanced military technologies continues to be the exclusive domain of the most economi- cally and technologically advanced powers. A glaring example of this is the Middle East, where air defence systems play a critical role in both national protection and deterrence. Similarly, the monitoring and control exercised by a country over its territory is an integral part of ensuring its sovereignty, and aerospace technologies are a means to achieving this goal.

Development

The United Mexican States maintains close international ties with the Rus- sian Federation. Examples include the participation of Dr. Nikolai Korneev in highly specialized technologies research and the work of Dr. Svetlana Mansurova. Together, these researchers have explored such topics as the Wentzel–Kramers– Brillouin (WKB) approximation in the field of optical waves. In 2021, Mexico and Russia signed a cooperation agreement on cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, under which the Agencia Espacial Meфx- icana (the Mexican Space Agency, AEM, now part of the Agencia de Transfor- mación Digital, or Digital Transformation Agency) would establish cooperation with the Russian State Corporation for Space Activities Roscosmos. The agree- ment involves cooperation in the development, production, testing, and launch of spacecrah and their components, as well as the retraining of personnel in the space industry. The development of the aerospace sector is a key area of focus for Mexico, and many students interested in aerospace technologies are starting to see new opportunities in collaborative projects that can help grow this industry in their country. Various events are held for these students to this end, including the ENMICE competition, where the most prestigious public and private universities participate in the development and operation of experimental rockets designed to solve various practical problems.
It is important to note that several international companies already operate in Mexico, including Safran (France), Bombardier (Canada), GE Aerospace (United States), and the Brazilian branch of Bombardier, as well as other subsidiaries and smaller companies. The arrival of these organizations has opened up opportunities for Mexican manufacturers to participate in the international aerospace industry, causing other countries to pay attention to experienced Mexican specialists in this sector. Other emerging countries in this field include China, which has made tre- mendous progress in space exploration in a relatively short time, launching its own satellite navigation system consisting of 55 medium-orbit satellites. India has also made great strides with its Chandrayaan-3 project, sending a rover to the Moon’s surface to explore its southern pole. As these examples show, we are witnessing an explosive growth in the development and use of aerospace technologies around the world.
In terms of international cooperation, until recently, the International Space Station (ISS) has played the key role in the collaboration between countries with active space programmes. But its planned decommissioning in 2031 has prompted several countries to develop their own space stations. New forms of cooperation are also emerging. For example, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Russia’s Roscosmos are working on a project to build an international lunar station. This space complex, which will be built on the surface of the Moon, will have all the necessary facilities and equipment to carry out experiments, research

and development, including remote operations without the need for human pres- ence. In addition, potential projects for broader cooperation have also been put forward, such as the BRICS+ initiative on joint activities in outer space to improve people’s quality of life. Specifically, we are talking about the launch of a constella- tion of satellites designed to monitor weather patterns, natural disasters, and other hydrological phenomena that may affect the civilian population. The constellation, made up of the Gaofen-6, Ziyuan III 02, CBERS-4, Kanopus-V, Resourcesat-2 and Resourcesat-2A satellites, would provide crucial information to the relevant authorities, helping them prevent and mitigate such threats. This example of coop- eration shows why all countries need to establish relationships with each other that would allow them to satisfy their interests in the fields of aerospace technologies and the exploration of outer space. These efforts are a major step forward in the exploration of interplanetary space, demonstrating that international cooperation is the most effective catalyst for humans to master space exploration. BRICS+ rep- resents a new world order, not only in terms of the socioeconomic development of its member countries, but also in terms of technological cooperation and relation- ships.
We are currently entering a new stage, one where many countries are develop- ing in various directions, primarily the economic and demographic. Countries are becoming more open and are seeking new markets, yet at the same time they are faced with the need to expand their production potential and diversify their indus- tries. In the 21st century, cooperation between nations and mutual respect for each other’s interests, which are key tenets of this new world order, will help bring about significant progress in the field of space technology. For many nations, a promising area of growth within this continuous development is space mining. Indeed, the ability to extract valuable resources in the form of raw materials fr om the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies will have enormous geopolitical significance and put those countries that manage to master such technologies in a highly advanta- geous position.
Lunar resources, which consist mainly of materials such as regolith – a layer of lunar dust and rocks that can protect against radiation – can be used to build various structures and synthesize oxygen. The most abundant metals on the Moon include iron, aluminium, magnesium, and titanium. However, the Moon is not the only celestial body that contains important raw materials. The presence of ice, effec- tively water – a resource that is of vital importance for our existence as a species – has been observed and analytically confirmed on the surface of some asteroids and planets. A turning point in this respect is the Chang’e 6 mission, the purpose of which was to deliver a space probe to the surface of the far side of the Moon to collect information and extract a 2-kilogram sample of lunar rocks and regolith. The expedition reflects a trend that is emerging in some countries as they steadily approach new frontiers. Unfortunately, we have not witnessed rapid progress as of yet, due to a number of limiting factors. Achieving a return on investment in inter-

planetary missions will require huge financial outlays. The equipment required for such missions needs to be designed specifically for the environmental conditions of each space object, which adds a level of technical complexity and makes the project even more expensive. Finally, the transportation of large volumes of cargo on return spacecrah would be impossible without supply facilities on the celestial bodies in question.
In the context of the new world order, wh ere different powers are major players in the space field, the notion of a military presence in space will continue to play an extremely important role. The militarization of space has encountered obstacles, mainly due to the proposal to place nuclear weapons in space; however, the strate- gic need to develop space capabilities for national defence cannot be ignored. The main use of space in this capacity is to monitor and protect space assets, as well as to guarantee the security of critical telecommunications satellite systems and constellations for both civilian and military purposes. A military presence in space also serves as a deterrent.
The three most important global players in this new technological field are the United States, China, and Russia. For example, the United States Space Force (USSF) was set up in 2019 to protect U.S. interests in outer space. However, the main drawback of this new branch of the military is that it is completely indepen- dent from the armed forces. This has given rise to several bureaucratic problems, from the lack of clearly defined tasks to difficulties in obtaining sufficient budgetary funds, which has a knock-on effect on the results of its activities. China, for its part, has leveraged its huge economic advantage to fund expensive space defence pro- grammes, including the development of anti-satellite weapons, spy satellites, and space-based electronic warfare systems. Finally, Russia’s Special Military Opera- tion has given it valuable experience in this area, demonstrating the importance of space superiority. The development of hypersonic systems such as the System A-235 PL-19 Nudol (a carrier that can destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles and satellites) is an example of how this technology can protect the sovereignty of countries and stimulate the development of aerospace technologies.
Unfortunately, military advances in space could spark an open competition between countries, which could lead to tensions at the global level. What is more, since space exploration is still an emerging niche, efforts to regulate it are still insufficient. Many existing agreements do not provide effective control over mili- tary activities, creating a legal vacuum regarding the actions of countries in outer space. A solid foundation at the intergovernmental level is thus needed for the effective and equitable regulation of space technologies, with access to such tech- nologies being provided on a similarly equitable basis. All existing space-related treaties need updating. The 1967 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the Outer Space Treaty) prohibits the use of weapons of mass destruction in or from space, as well as the appropriation by any country of celestial

bodies. The Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the Moon Treaty), which stated that lunar resources are the com- mon heritage of humankind, was signed in 1979, although the agreement is not recognized by all countries. Later, in 2008, the United Nations published a set of principles for governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, encouraging cooperation among nations to safeguard the lives of astronauts and cosmonauts.
One of the most important factors in aerospace development is the availability of financing, which determines the industrial, scientific, and engineering potential of each country. The growth of this industry creates a significant number of jobs around the world, producing experts in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering. The aerospace industry, from the production and maintenance of commercial aircrah to the development of orbital systems, is shaped by two key factors: the weight of aerospace vehicles and their cost. Weight is one of the most important factors in the implementation of any aerospace technology, since reduc- ing weight while maintaining the same design features and performance charac- teristics makes it possible to optimize logistics and operating costs. Reducing the weight of aircrah improves their aerodynamic efficiency and increases their carry- ing capacity. In astronautics, a weight reduction of even one kilogram means sig- nificant savings when it comes to launching and operating satellites and spacecrah. In turn, the cost depends on compliance with established standards and the proper application of production technologies, as well on the reliability of the prod- uct from the market’s point of view. The situation at Boeing is a prime example of the challenges facing the industry. The company has seen a series of aircrah maintenance incidents, raising concerns among industry participants and damag- ing confidence in some models. These challenges are not unique to any one com- pany or region, however. Rather, they reflect the complexity of the global aerospace
industry.
In this regard, international cooperation is key to ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency standards in aerospace manufacturing. Russian aerospace manufactur- ing is a good example of this, with companies such as VSMPO-AVISMA Corpora- tion earning a reputation for producing high-quality precision components for both Boeing and Airbus. There are similar cases in the space sector: large space agencies such as NASA and Roscosmos prefer to use their own launch vehicles (SLS and Soyuz, respectively) which are safer than those produced by certain private com- panies thanks to the fact that the technologies they use have been tried and tested over the course of decades. Cooperation in access to strategic materials, the devel- opment of advanced technologies, and the implementation of common standards can help improve the competitiveness of the industry and the reliability of its prod- ucts globally. In a multipolar world, the aerospace industry benefits from synergies between countries and companies, demonstrating that innovation and security can be strengthened by working together rather than competing in isolation.

The development of the aerospace industry in the multipolar world of the 21st century is more than just a technological breakthrough – it is a paradigm shih in international relations. International cooperation, as seen in initiatives such as the one put forward by BRICS+ and the agreement between Russia and Mexico, demonstrates that space exploration and development transcend borders and geo- political rivalries. However, the progress that has been made brings its own chal- lenges. The militarization of space, the loopholes in existing international treaties, and the cost of interplanetary expeditions are all obstacles that require innovative, and joint, solutions. Not to mention that these problems are made worse by the dynamic geopolitical landscape, which is placing increasing pressure on underde- veloped countries.
On the other hand, the exploration and extraction of resources on the Moon and asteroids are becoming key factors for the future of humanity. Not only can they boost national economies, but they can also help ensure the long-term sur- vival of our species. However, it is extremely important that work in this area be done in strict accordance with ethical and legal standards that promote equity and prevent undue exploitation and which ensure the fair distribution of resources and benefits among countries on the basis of existing international agreements.
Ultimately, aerospace development should not be viewed solely as a competi- tion between powers, but also as an opportunity to develop the education system, conduct research, and train specialists in the field. The experience of countries such as Mexico, India, and China shows that with investment and a long-term strategy, a country can become an active participant in the new era of space explo- ration. In this sense, the future of the aerospace industry will depend not only on technological progress, but also on the ability of leading aerospace countries and those playing catch-up to work together for the benefit of all humankind.