Who Will Be Left Behind as Outer Space Develops?
- Paper number
IAC-08.E5.2.4
- Author
Prof. Edythe Weeks, Consultant, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
As space activities gradually move outer space development from imagination to reality, the territory known as outer space will eventually become “developed”. Global inequality gaps between developed and developing nations, as well as between people within nations, have been widening increasingly in recent years. This paper analyzes these phenomena along with key factors likely to perpetuate deeper inequalities as outer space is developed. The first wave of outer space development resulted in substantial economic benefits for countries, companies and individuals who were aware and cognizant of space activities. As the second wave of outer space development begins to become manifest, the same patterns of inequality are likely to be reproduced. Typically knowledge about the intricate details of outer space activities is the exclusive purview of elites. This is in spite of the mandate in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 stating that all humankind are to share in the benefits of outer space. The problem discussed in the paper is that it is difficult for people to benefit when they remain unaware of current events regarding the further economic development of outer space. This paper also focuses on how to use space studies programs to engage more people, particularly students, into the myriad categories of space studies in ways to benefit more members of societies in different countries.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E5.2.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.