Lunar outpost as a public private partnership,finding a model that works
- Paper number
IAC-06-E3.2.08
- Author
Mr. Joseph Casas, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Marshall Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Brian Mitchell, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Marshall Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Mark Nall, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Marshall Space Flight Center, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Space exploration can be enhanced through the existence of a robust in-space economy. As NASA has found with the International Space Station, an aggressive exploration program is not affordable, if NASA owns and operates the entire space infrastructure. Commercial operation of space infrastructure requires a growing in-space economy. A key feature of this economy will be Lunar settlements. Various governmental and commercial space planning envisions within the next two decades, the establishment of at least one permanent outpost on the Moon. There are three possible mechanisms for establishing an outpost in a remote extreme environment such as the Moon. These are a purely government outpost, a purely industrial outpost, and a joint government and industry outpost. An example of a purely government outpost is McMurdo Station in Antarctica. McMurdo is operated by the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs which spends approximately $200M per year on Antarctic facilities. There are no permanent residents at McMurdo. An example of a purely commercial outpost is Deadhorse at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. This is an oil town with a population of approximately 47. While there are permanent residents at Deadhorse, no families live there. Neither one of these models produces a robust, growing, settlement. If Lunar settlements that support exploration, and a growing economy, are to be developed, then a new model is required. This public-private partnership model utilizes the unique capabilities of both industry and government to achieve objectives common to both. It is based upon the model used by the highly successful NASA Space Partnership Development Program. This program has leveraged its NASA funding by more than two to one in the development of technologies needed by both NASA and industry. This leveraging has enabled it to perform 30% of the U.S. research on the International Space Station on 5% of the NASA research budget. This partnership and leveraging philosophy is applied to space development by comparing current commercial space and NASA Explorations System Architecture Study planning, and identifying common areas for mutual investment. Steps are identified that can be taken now to enable the development of public private partnerships that will aid in the establishment of a full Lunar settlement and robust in-space economy.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E3.2.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.