Part 7/8:
Amidst this resurgence of global ambitions, the U.S. government has increasingly leaned on the private sector, with NASA fostering partnerships with companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines, and Firefly Aerospace, among others. This transition from a bipolar competition during the Cold War to a multi-faceted arena promotes both cooperation and rivalry among international contenders, including the European Space Agency, India, and Japan, each achieving significant milestones in space exploration.