Key Points:
<aside> 💡 Traditionally, the development and utilization of space technology and infrastructure, including GNSS technology, has been exclusively developed and used by national governments.
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<aside> 💡 Although in recent times, the exclusive control of space technology by the state and military may have considerably weakened, they remain as leading actors in the traditional dimensions of norm-building and security.
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Space technology development, including GNSS, had been largely limited to the responsibilities of the government and the military.
For example, in the United States, most of its early space projects and long-term space-aerospace research have been conducted through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Historical comparison of NASA budgets. NASA's budget peaked in 1964–66 when it consumed roughly 4% of total federal spending during the Apollo program.
The development of GPS, the GNSS of the United States, was also a state-led program. Its advent in 1978, amid the Cold War, was largely limited to the military, due to its invaluable capabilities for guiding precision strike, control, and location tracking. In turn, civilian use was strictly limited. As a response, the Soviet Union similarly developed its own satellite navigation system GLONASS from 1982, again for military purposes only and to compete with GPS.
In other words, the first stages of GNSS development can be analyzed from the traditional understanding of hegemonic competition. In the framework or realism, GNSS was the product of the security dilemma in the bipolar world system of the time.
However, in recent times, space has become comparatively easier to access. Participation in space activities by the private sector has greatly expanded, emerging as a significant variable in understanding space and GNSS politics. In particular, GNSS and remote sensing are no longer limited as state initiatives, for it has become possible not only for private actors to utilize remote sensing information using existing GNSS, but they have contributed to updated GNSS capabilities through launch vehicles and even developing independent satellites.
A record number of satellites were launched into orbit in 2020, more than tripling the number launched in the previous year. There has been double-digit growth in satellite broadband, remote sensing/imaging and the number of launches from the private sector.
Although the roles of the state government and military may have weakened relatively, in the traditional dimension of security and norm-building, they continue to remain as predominant actors in absolute terms.
Sources:
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Budget_of_NASA
https://sia.org/commercial-satellite-industry-continues-to-dominate-growing-global-space-business-despite-covid-sia-releases-state-industry-report/