The Nobel Peace Prize could leave the planet this year, with the International Space Station among contenders

The potential Nobel Peace Prize could be awarded this year to the International Space Station (ISS), a symbol of global cooperation, despite numerous terrestrial contenders. U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ukrainian children's advocate Mykola Kuleba, Save the Children, Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms, and two international courts are among the other potential winners.

The annual guessing game about the Peace Prize winner, often dubbed the most prestigious award on the planet, begins ahead of the Norwegian Nobel Committee's Oct. 9 decision in Oslo. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, in its process of awarding the prize, typically emphasizes the durability of peace, the promotion of international fraternity, and the work of institutions that strengthen these objectives.

The International Space Station, representing global cooperation amid a period of waning multilateralism and nationalistic tendencies, is a unique and unexpected candidate for the prize. However, the United States and Israel's ongoing war on Iran and Trump's controversial nomination also pose challenges to his chances. The prize's selection often leads to political fallout, regardless of the winner's identity.