Lessons from space on vital role of global collaboration

Many of the challenges in the world today are complex, multifaceted and multilayered. The solutions to address these challenges are similarly complex, involving multiple stakeholders, self-interests, and the need to factor in the geopolitical landscape.

In order to address these challenges — whether it be climate change, desertification, or the health-related crises we are facing around the globe — international collaboration has never been more essential. 

These issues transcend national borders and require the concerted efforts of countries, industries, organizations, and individuals to find sustainable solutions. Effective collaboration is key to tackling these global threats, as no single nation has the resources or capability to address them alone.

Additionally, we are all interconnected, and challenges in one nation affect us all, regardless of borders. One such example is Pakistan’s 2022 floods — one of the worst in the nation’s history — which were attributed to climate change, even though Pakistan emitted less than 1 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Healthcare is facing similarly unprecedented and multifaceted challenges, including a shortage of family doctors in many countries, disease outbreaks, increasing climate change-related health issues, and worsening social determinants of health, among other concerns. 

A recent international project I led — which resulted in an insightful publication by me and my colleagues in one of the world’s top medical journals — underscores an important point. 

This is the transformative potential and pivotal role that international collaboration in the space sector can play in supporting and advancing healthcare and Earth-based challenges.

The space sector has mastered international collaboration and cooperation in exploration. Without this it would not be feasible for most nations to go to space, engage in research, or obtain satellite images to support public health emergencies and natural disasters. 

The publication provides insights into using the space sector as a role model and bridging gaps between healthcare and the industry. These insights demonstrate how the expertise and extensive networks of the space sector can significantly bolster public and global health. 

In the face of global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and natural disasters, the interconnectedness of sectors has become more evident than ever. 

My co-authors on this publication included leadership from the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs as well as experts from international space agencies.

International collaboration and partnerships have been key to advancing space exploration and research for many nations. 

Canada is a recognized leader in space, playing a pivotal role in international missions and robotics for exploration. Despite lacking sovereign launch capability, Canada has still sent nine astronauts into space.

The first Muslim and first Saudi Arabian citizen in space, Prince Sultan bin Salman, embarked on his mission through collaborations with NASA, aboard its space shuttle.

The recent Saudi Arabian astronauts were a part of an international public-private partnership. This is a model increasingly seen in the sector, with Saudi Arabian and American astronauts traveling on a SpaceX rocket.

Similarly, the “Sultan of Space,” UAE astronaut Dr. Sultan Al-Neyadi — currently the UAE minister of state for youth affairs — became the longest-serving Arab in space and the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.

He was part of Expedition 69, which included an international crew of NASA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts. 

I still recall seeing images of Al-Neyadi at the International Space Station wearing the Canadian Space Agency’s Bio-Monitor — yet another example of international collaboration in space-related health research.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are signatories to the Artemis Accords, an international agreement involving over 50 nations, which will see humanity return to the moon and eventually prepare for Mars.

Space-based collaboration is unique in that, despite current international geopolitical tensions and conflicts, these partnerships continue.

For example, despite ongoing wars, conflicts, and potential trade disputes, nations including the US, Canada, Russia, and various European countries continue to collaborate in space, including through the International Space Station. 

Dr. Monica Rocha, an expert from the Brazilian Space Agency and my co-author on the recent publication, stated: “International cooperation plays a fundamental role in making space activities more accessible, secure, and sustainable.

“By fostering collaboration among nations, we not only expand the number of countries actively engaged in space initiatives, but also enable the development of increasingly ambitious and impactful projects.

“Such cooperation is essential to ensuring the peaceful use of outer space and to delivering tangible benefits to global society.”

My research highlights that international collaboration is essential for addressing today’s most pressing global challenges. The space sector has demonstrated how pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise for a common goal can lead to innovative solutions. 

By learning from successful space initiatives, countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other GCC nations can accelerate progress in tackling desertification, climate change, and healthcare challenges.

With the right partnerships and a shared vision, these countries can significantly enhance global efforts while securing their own future in a rapidly changing world.

Such a focus would also enable Saudi Arabia and the UAE to invest in developing future leaders within the space sector, particularly in space medicine and health — fields crucial for advancing human exploration.

This, too, can be achieved through international collaborations that foster local expertise and knowledge. 

• Dr. Farhan M. Asrar is a Canadian physician, academic, and space medicine researcher. He is associate dean at Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Medicine and holds senior faculty/leadership roles at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, International Space University, and Trillium Health Partners. He was recently awarded King Charles III’s Coronation Medal by the government of Canada.