Contract of Nationalism between Space Mission from Cold War to Trump Administration

Abstract

The American government has made it known that future space initiatives are necessary and that unilateral space missions may be possible during Donald Trump's administration. This change is a significant break from previous practices because, particularly since the Cold War, American political discourse on space during the ISS (International Space Station) era has tended to encourage international cooperation. This research explores the relationship between American nationalism and space, offering an explanation for why the relevance of space exploration has changed over time from the 1960s to 2019. One of the key components of American national identity, space technology is employed to highlight and strengthen national might. This article will contrast how nationalism was practiced during these three eras of American history: the Cold War space race, the international space station era and Trump’s administration. In the face of an equal "challenger," a fantastic nation is depicted using a spectacular set of technology.