International Space Commerce: Enhancing Global Quality of Life

Paper number

IAC-06-E3.2.03

Author

Dr. Paul Eckert, The Boeing Company, United States

Year

2006

Abstract

A consortium of major companies is sponsoring international executive roundtable discussions to explore the potential economic benefits of space exploration.  Business executives are participating because of market opportunities that appear too promising to ignore.  Government space agencies have also begun to regard growth of space commerce as beneficial, because it encourages public support by aligning space exploration with enhancement of quality of life on Earth.  Another benefit to governments is the potential to procure space products and services more cheaply from commercial sources, due to economies of scale and a multiple customer base.  The prospect of mutual benefit provides a rationale for government-industry cooperation, and successful partnership models are readily available.  International collaboration might be facilitated by the “Program of Programs” approach, advocated by leaders within International Space University (ISU), George Mason University, and AIAA. 

A major goal of industry roundtable discussions is to attract private investment through a four-step risk management sequence involving dialogue, research, demonstration projects, and large-scale ventures.  Dialogue is proving effective in part because it includes startup as well as established firms, uniting innovators in both kinds of companies in a common entrepreneurial effort.  Also important are non-space companies, which bring unique expertise and needed resources.  A significant means of encouraging industry interest is the development of “dual-use” technology (e.g., robotics), which enables both near-term products for terrestrial use and farther-term products for use in space.

Dialogue is specifically focusing on lunar production of propellant, from surface materials containing hydrogen and oxygen, which might supply propellant depots in low Earth orbit more cost-effectively than terrestrial sources, because of the Moon’s significantly lower gravity.  Depots might in turn enable commercial satellite launch companies to lower their costs by avoiding the expense of launching from the Earth’s surface all the propellant needed for satellite placement.  As with propellant, lunar resources might be employed in fabrication of solar power satellite components, which could be shipped back to Earth orbit more cheaply than producing them terrestrially, given the Moon’s low gravity environment.   Space solar power might then provide a completely renewable, environmentally clean, and cost competitive power source—a service especially important in developing countries with rapidly escalating energy requirements but inadequate infrastructure.  Clearly, success of such ventures would not only benefit government and industry but also yield economic growth, enhancing global quality of life.

Abstract document

IAC-06-E3.2.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-E3.2.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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