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Directing vs. facilitating the economic development of low Earth orbit

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posted on 2023-06-09, 02:06 authored by Mariana Mazzucato, Douglas K R Robinson
This chapter focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with the shift away from NASA-centric development in low Earth orbit (LEO) toward an ecosystem with a mix of private, not-for-profit, and public actors. We focus on the question of whether NASA can and should direct the commercialization of LEO or whether its role should primarily be that of a facilitator. NASA has historically been the central definer of national space activities as a mission-oriented public agency with a clear ambition to direct innovation, not just to facilitate it. NASA’s role in LEO, however, is in the process of changing. We describe how public-private partnerships have created both tensions and opportunities for NASA. We consider how these tensions and opportunities may play out between now and the projected end of the International Space Station (ISS) and in terms of how such relationships can be built to support NASA in its mission to explore and develop the rest of the solar system beyond LEO.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Other

Publisher

NASA.gov

Page range

113-130

Book title

Economic Development of Low Earth Orbit

Place of publication

Washington, USA

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • No

Editors

Alexander MacDonald, Patrick Besha

Legacy Posted Date

2016-07-11

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