Brazil in the New Geographies of International Space Cooperation

Abstract The space sector is currently undergoing profound shifts, which may redefine the way it is economically exploited, how research and development is organized, and the ways by which scientific and technological partnerships are designed. A striking feature of this sector has always been the high level of international cooperation between actors, primarily public agents or agencies, in part due to the substantial financial investments required to develop space activities. International cooperation initiatives, particularly related to R&D, have evolved into new geographies of participating countries and actors. The formation of space groups or coalitions, the increase in South–South projects, the emergence of private companies as promising state partners, and the design of global value chains in the space sector illustrate these new trends. In this evolving landscape, using the Brazilian case, this chapter discusses emerging spacefaring nations’ approaches to international collaboration in the new space economy.