The purpose of this thesis is to examine and analyse how the space race has changed from a cold-war era arms race between two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union into a more complex and developed industry with many players from both private and public sectors all around the world wishing to participate in the frontier of technological advancement and space exploration.

This thesis will analyse the topic of space travel and exploration and the space industry in general through the lens of politics, science, business and nations. Overall, the industry will also be contextualized from a historical perspective, highlighting the importance of discovery to the development of civilizations, examining some of the long-term effects of discovery that can be seen today as a result.