On August 2, 1955, the United States embarked on a great space race with the Soviet Union. The new space race is different this time. China, Russia, and the U.S. are the frontrunners, joined by emerging space states who want a say in the future of space exploration.

Eighty countries have a presence in space. Space exploration offers humanity a platform to confront some of our most pressing challenges. From enhancing global communication to climate change research, space has sourced innovation and development. Preserving national security, commercial access, and sustainability in space is paramount for U.S. interests. To remain a leader in space will require the United States to collaborate with international allies and partners. The only way forward is together.

The idea of space as a global common is disappearing. Spheres of influence, claims on territory, alliances, and conflicts will take shape in space just as they occur on Earth. The international community has failed to establish rules to regulate this competition. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 is out of date. It has gaps in addressing arms control, non-traditional actors, governance, labor, environmental impact, access, and commercial activity. Without laws governing human activity in space, the possibilities for conflict are astronomical.

The United States and Japan recently reached an agreement advancing bilateral space cooperation. This dialogue represents a shared commitment to working with the international community toward secure and sustainable outer space—conversations like these point the way to broader international agreement.

National security is always a U.S. priority, and it is no different in space. The U.S. must establish peaceful international precedents in space. It must reject destructive satellite systems and the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. As the era of the International Space Station draws to a close, the United States will need to lead new efforts at collaboration and diplomacy to ensure space remains peaceful and secure.

Industry leaders explore space in ways previously unknown to mankind. Can you imagine viewing the Earth from a spaceship? Soon, you may travel to space from the world’s first spaceport. Space partnerships with the private sector have provided breakthroughs for life on Earth: satellite network projects are integrating remote communities into the global economy. Governments, for their part, must require private companies to comply with regulations to ensure safety.

The international community also needs to consider the environmental implications of space exploration. Space debris is a first-order threat. Other threats include solar radiation, hazardous chemical levels in the upper atmosphere, and light pollution that may hinder future discovery. Global regulation is needed to ensure space sustainability.

The present pace of growth in the space sector is unsustainable. The planned mega-constellations could throttle competition and innovation. To mitigate the difficult unknowns of space exploration, the United States must continue intense communication with the private sector and global partners. We must create a policy to ensure that no company or country dominates a particular orbit.

We need a new set of rules and a better understanding of the space they govern. The U.S. must call upon the global community and emerging space states to forge the path to the final frontier responsibly and sustainably. The international community must adopt a united, diplomatic approach toward securing our space frontier in this new space race era. The only way forward is together. Space is for everybody.