# Global Power Dynamics in the Contemporary Space System
## 4 System Actors--Space Powers
### Major Space Actors
#### 4.2.7 Emerging Middle Space Powers  
In addition to the growing role of the existing and new space powers, an increasing number of emerging middle space powers have been identified in the 21 st-century space system. These emerging middle space powers are developing new space capabilities, including space policy, agencies, and budgets, as well as military, commercial, and civil applications. These applications are playing a significant role in the space domain. The significance of these actors' contributions is not solely attributed to their own developmental trajectories, but also to their strategic alignments (or divergences) with the predominant space powers. The emergence of space powers or \"nascent space powers\" in the space domain has been identified as a primary feature of the 21 st century space age [67; 68]. The initial step in the development of a national space program is the establishment of a national space agency that serves to unify, coordinate, and execute all space-related activities. An analysis of the proliferation of space agencies worldwide is noteworthy. For instance, within the 20-year span from 2000 to 2020, the number of national space agencies increased by 37, including those in Japan, Iran, Mexico, South Africa, and Portugal [69]. A considerable number of emergent middle powers have demonstrated remarkable progress, including Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Australia, among others. It is essential to identify and examine a selection of these cases to comprehend the significance of the emerging middle power dynamic. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) entered the 21 st century with no significant activity related to outer space. In 2006, the government established the Emirate Institute for the Advancement of Science and Technology (EIAST) with the objective of positioning the UAE at the forefront of space science and technology development, thereby diversifying its economic base beyond a petroleum-centered economy [70]. Subsequent to this initiative, the nation has witnessed several significant milestones, including the establishment of the UAE Space Agency in 2014, the inauguration of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center in 2016, the launch of the National Space Program in 2017, and the issuance of the Federal Law on the Regulation of the Space Sector in 2019. The UAE's current space program includes a lunar mission in collaboration with the Japanese company I-space and SpaceX, and a Mars mission in partnership with U.S. universities and JAXA. The UAE's assertive space diplomacy has resulted in numerous agreements with various entities, including Germany, the UK, South Korea, and France, as well as with prominent space agencies such as NASA, JAXA, ISRO, and Roscosmos. The UAE has also established partnerships with private sector entities, including SpaceX and I-space, and with academic institutions, such as universities, further demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation in the field of space exploration [71]. Turkey is a noteworthy example of an emergent middle power. Its strategic geopolitical position as a historical bridge between Europe and Asia has been a source of its influence, and since President [PERSON] took power in 2014, it has demonstrated a commitment to developing a national space program that will strengthen its regional and global power aspirations. After years of planning, Turkey established its own space agency, the Turkish Space Agency, in 2018 to unify and coordinate the Turkish space program. In a strategic move, President [PERSON] unveiled an ambitious 10-year space program in 2021, a first for the country, highlighting Ankara's plans to compete with other countries both on the world stage and beyond. The 10-year plan includes the launch of a rover to the Moon by the end of the decade using a domestically built hybrid rocket engine that is currently being developed in Turkey [72]. In addition, the plan includes the launch of a Turkish citizen to the International Space Station by 2024.