Leaders Convene for Space Summit

If your image of space exploration is people boldly going where no one has gone before, you might want to slow down a bit. Space exploration is a marathon, not a sprint, say world space leaders who attended the Space Policy Summit hosted by the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy October 11 through 13. They recommended that space exploration be pursued as a step-by-step progression that involves sustained, systematic improvements in scientific understanding and enabling technologies, such as advanced in-space propulsion and power-generation systems.

The 39 international leaders, representing government and industry of 16 nations and five international organizations, discussed space commerce, space exploration, and space applications and identified key policies and initiatives aimed at bringing the benefits of space activities to humanity through international cooperation. They also discussed obstacles to taking full advantage of the benefits of space and explored ways to surmount those challenges. Organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and sponsored by the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the summit was held in conjunction with the World Space Congress taking place in Houston.
“As government and private sectors pursue the use of space for everything from satellite communications to human spaceflight, a coherent and effective policy to regulate such activities will be of paramount importance,” commented Edward Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute. “The Baker Institute was pleased to host the first Space Policy Summit in coordination with AIAA and Lockheed Martin. We think it is a very promising start for future deliberations with a view toward policy recommendations to decision makers.”

The summit discussion was influenced by the renewed emphasis on national and international security concerns and the significant downturn in commercial space markets. Participants emphasized that space technologies and capabilities have a unique ability to address many of the challenges facing the world. “In bringing together key space leaders from around the globe for a cooperative dialog,” said Brian Dailey, vice president–international of AIAA, “the Space Policy Summit has provided the framework and path forward for addressing the most compelling challenges facing world space endeavors.”

George Abbey, visiting senior fellow for space policy at the Baker Institute, noted that a number of crosscutting issues emerged from the summit. “Cooperation in space, for example, can provide a foundation to expand relationships among nations in many areas,” he said. “Space organizations should make a more concerted effort to engage and make the world public more aware of space activities and the specific benefits and impact on their lives. Space also has a unique power to inspire youth to study math and science, which will have long-term workforce benefits.”

Participants in the session on commercial space issues noted several issues. First, today’s commercial satellite market is not sufficient to sustain current space launch systems or justify industry investment in new technologies. Government support is needed to meet national objectives in security, civil, and commercial sectors. In line with that, in many cases, government funding or requirements lead to the development of new technologies and applications. Once the development is mature, industry develops commercial products and services based on those applications.

They also thought that while export controls on space-related technologies reflect legitimate national security and nonproliferation concerns, they limit international cooperation and inhibit growth of the commercial sector. Governments should harmonize export control requirements according to true national security needs and create timely, predictable, and transparent systems for licensing space technologies. And finally, dual-use space systems can efficiently and reliably serve users in both the public and private sectors.

Leaders in the space exploration session pointed out that discoveries to be made through space exploration are inexhaustible. Space exploration is a global endeavor and a vision is needed that looks beyond the space station and involves robotics, human exploration, and the search for life. They also affirmed that the International Space Station program represents an unprecedented technical achievement, and despite current problems, it will be successful and provide a model for international cooperation.

The space applications issues session resulted in the observation that data access is still a problem in certain circumstances, although the cost of the raw data itself might be a minor contributor to the overall cost of value-added products. If requests for data are for specific needs rather than blanket demands, it might enhance data availability from providers. Also, remote sensing programs increasingly are being defined by user requirements, rather than by space data providers, which is a welcome trend.

In addition, the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Partnership is a first real step toward a global Earth-observing system and is providing a foundation on which to build. It is important to use and strengthen existing activities such as IGOS rather than try to create new mechanisms.

For more information on the Space Policy Summit, see http://www.aiaa.org/spacepolicy or http://www.bakerinstitute.org.

—B. J. Almond