| Summary/Abstract |
In our immediate solar neighbourhood in space is the Sun and then in order Mercury, Venus, Earth (and its satellite the Moon), Mars (and its satellites Fobos and Deimos) and then a series of asteroids. This is the arena for a growing international effort, both co-operative and competitive, not only in exploration but also in increasingly commercial terms. A race to exploit resources to be found in space, not least in the asteroid belt, is developing. These space activities have both political and economic impact on Earth. Greater collaboration is essential in future, especially to deal with potential dangers from space.
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