NASA’s Traditional Approaches to International Cooperation: Assessment of Relevance and Applicability for Space Exploration
- Paper number
IAC-10.B3.8.-E7.7.4
- Author
Ms. Peggy Finarelli, George Mason University, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Ian Pryke, George Mason University, United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Lyn Wigbels, American Astronautical Society (AAS), United States
- Year
2010
- Abstract
NASA cooperates with other space agencies in the majority of its programs. The agency has developed a set of “rules” to select programs that it deems appropriate for cooperation, to guide its negotiation of international agreements and to implement joint activities. In the context of the current U.S. Administration’s desire for expanded international cooperation in space exploration and other program areas, it is timely to review and assess NASA’s traditional approaches to international cooperation. To this end, the authors are organizing a set of two Workshops at George Mason University to assess the relevance and applicability of NASA’s traditional approaches to international cooperation in space exploration. The first Workshop, scheduled for late June/early July 2010, will bring together 20-25 US experts, all from the ranks of actual practitioners of international space cooperation, either as policy developers/negotiators or as program implementers. These experts will look at NASA’s traditional “rules” from multiple perspectives: benefit and risk to NASA in programmatic and other areas, relevance given the expanded capabilities of potential international partners, evolution in the geopolitical landscape, desirability/applicability in the context of NASA’s seeking expanded international involvement in its exploration and other activities. The next step will be to elicit international reactions to this review and assessment; such feedback is a critically important part of the puzzle if enhanced international cooperation is to be realized. The second Workshop will therefore assemble a non-US group of space professionals to review the results of the first Workshop. These professionals will be asked for their reactions regarding the efficacy and usefulness of any recommended changes in eliciting more significant international involvement in exploration. The informal, unofficial environment of the Workshops is designed to bring forth important insights and frank exchanges from both US and non-US experts. For the IAC meeting, the organizers will present a report outlining workable approaches for future international cooperation in space exploration based on the output of the two Workshops, extending the analysis to other program areas as appropriate. These new ideas will be based in past experience (successes and failures) as well as current realities. It is anticipated that this report will be of interest to all space agencies in that it represents the first systematic reassessment of NASA’s long-standing “rules” in an effort to construct a new scenario for cooperation.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)