Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101634
W. Henry Lambright
{"title":"Leading the Moon to Mars Program: James Bridenstine as NASA administrator 2018–2021","authors":"W. Henry Lambright","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101634","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Large-scale, long-term scientific and technological programs face many hurdles and barriers on the way from initiation to completion. This is especially true for huge-multi-billion space endeavors, such as Artemis, NASA's Moon to Mars venture. Such programs traverse a number of presidencies and congresses. Among the most critical factors in program success or failure is the performance of NASA Administrators. While typically in office only part of the time the program endures, their tenures can be pivotal. Consider the case of James Bridenstine who served in the tumultuous time of Donald Trump. His record illuminates how a NASA Administrator with a political style can maneuver to a program's advantage, often in spite of environmental turmoil. While the full story of Artemis is yet to be written, it seems clear that Bridenstine, overall, left the program with a more secure political momentum than when he arrived. While he could not achieve all he wished, especially internally, he set Artemis on a sufficiently sound trajectory that his successor, under a different president of the opposite party, could maintain and build on Bridenstine's legacy. This positive hand-off was largely unanticipated since Bridenstine came to office with low expectations. His actions to secure the Moon to Mars program thus merits reflection.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 101634"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141026543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101611
Sara Langston , Kayla Taylor
{"title":"Evaluating the benefits of dark and quiet skies in an age of satellite mega-constellations","authors":"Sara Langston , Kayla Taylor","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In an age of proliferating satellite constellations and congested Earth orbits, what is the status and value of dark and quiet skies? Satellite mega-constellations such as Starlink are illuminating the night sky with unnatural light and making astronomical observations—both professional and recreational—increasingly difficult. Radio frequency interference (RFI) from these constellations also adds obtrusive “noise,” impacting sensitive astronomical observations in the radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Scientists predict that the growing commercial space sector will add more than 100,000 satellites to Earth's orbit by the end of the decade, raising concerns from numerous scientists as to the future of dark skies. Astronomy, in particular, is inevitably affected by the impending disappearance of dark and quiet skies, which are necessary conditions for many aspects of scientific research. This topic has also gained attention, at both the international level and national level, within the United States. Nonetheless, contributions to the conversation of mitigating light/noise pollution predominantly focus on the likely adverse effects of artificial sky brightening from satellites. A holistic discussion is also warranted on the benefits of existing night skies and their significance for society.</p><p>This paper addresses the positive value of dark skies and the significance of protecting astronomy through current governing and analogous frameworks. First, this paper evaluates dark skies’ application under existing international and national law and policy, highlighting lacunae in governance and outlining convoluted issues for Earth-based science (astronomy) versus the lawful use of space (satellites). U.S. space law is used as a case study given the extensive history of the United States in space, comprehensive U.S. space political infrastructures, and the burgeoning domestic satellite mega-constellation industry. Second, relevant ethical values are identified to clarify inherent moral considerations that can guide policymaking and serve to establish practical measures and approaches to balance the conflicting interests of astronomers and satellite operators. Significantly, this paper contributes to the topic by explaining how the advent of technological change creates new conflicts on Earth and expounds on how and why these issues are lacking or are inadequate under current international frameworks. Moreover, this work explores key ethical values on this topic for informing public policy on dark and quiet skies and highlights some mechanisms for resolving these conflicts. In conclusion, the recession of dark skies is already occurring, and the likely impacts require transparency, good will, and interdisciplinary compromise between scientists, policymakers, and the space industry.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 101611"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140517874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101609
Manuel Heitor , Miguel Pina e Cunha , Stewart Clegg , Emir Sirage , Pedro Oliveira
{"title":"Beyond new space: Changing organizational forms, collaborative innovation and public and semi-public domains","authors":"Manuel Heitor , Miguel Pina e Cunha , Stewart Clegg , Emir Sirage , Pedro Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101609","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101609","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The core argument of this paper is that a new stage of a rather complex co-existence and co-evolution of space organizations is being entered with the emergence of <span><em>public-private collaborative organizations driven by </em><em>digitalization</em><em>, sustainability and safety</em></span>. Contrary to expectations of some fifteen years ago and except for a few notable cases in space communications, the New Space economy is seeing the formation of a new <em>public and semi-public</em> “<em>era</em>” of orbital space economy and in-orbit servicing in association with diversified funding schemes and a niche sector of new technological and business innovations in a global system of increasing fragmented production. These innovations relate to environmental and safety concerns, cost reductions, shorter life cycles, as well as a bolder market approach to non-space sectors. The emerging organizations address global challenges and are gradually engaging an increasing number of business firms and startups, together with research and technology organizations. They clearly gain from the New Space, but are mostly driven and funded by diversified funding schemes, with space entrepreneurship and equity investors balanced by an increasingly relevant role of public funding driven by <em>digitalization, sustainability and safety</em>, together with emerging public and semi-public goods.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 101609"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139537660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101623
Shinichiro Tokudome, Yusuke Maru, Satoshi Nonaka
{"title":"Medium-to long-term strategies in the field of space transportation systems formulated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency under the Inter-University Research Institute System","authors":"Shinichiro Tokudome, Yusuke Maru, Satoshi Nonaka","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Space Transportation System Committee of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been continuously formulating medium-to long-term strategies in the field of space transportation systems under the Inter-University Research Institute System of ISAS since FY2018. This committee is considering the role of ISAS in cooperation with the organization-wide activities of JAXA to formulate strategies in the field of space transportation systems. Among its previous achievements, the committee assembled a strategic target and scenario for the space transportation system research field at the end of FY2018 and has been continuously revising it. Based on the formulated mission scenario, the committee identified three priority areas related to system technologies that must be tackled. These are a “reusable orbit transportation system” aimed for highly frequent mass transportation from Earth to low Earth orbits, “deep space interorbital transportation system” aimed for a marked improvement in space science and exploration missions in terms of frequency and flexibility, and “small flying test bed system” for flight demonstrations, which is indispensable in the research and development of space transportation systems. In this paper, the authors summarize the medium-to long-term strategies and their concrete implementation measures over the next two decades.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 101623"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265964624000146/pdfft?md5=cef25149751dbfcd55390fb769d93d8a&pid=1-s2.0-S0265964624000146-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140092858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101626
Avishai Melamed , Adi Rao , Olaf de Rohan Willner , Sarah Kreps
{"title":"Going to outer space with new space: The rise and consequences of evolving public-private partnerships","authors":"Avishai Melamed , Adi Rao , Olaf de Rohan Willner , Sarah Kreps","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101626","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101626","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>What explains the commercialization of key government space projects through the incorporation of New Space? The newer generation of private companies have seen a significant increase in government contracting as they become instrumental for national security missions and high-profile civil projects. The turn to New Space companies, particularly those entrepreneurially-driven and privately funded, deviates from the governments' historical reliance on more traditional private partners. We argue that the turn towards New Space was neither inevitable nor monocausal, but rather the product of the confluence of the upstart sector's cost-efficient service offerings and rising public profile, which coincided with a period of renewed international competition. New Space firms indeed distinguished themselves by offering affordable products, an innovative production process, and a unique brand of prestigious reputation otherwise unavailable at national programs and older aerospace companies. However, these services were only deemed necessary for integration with the public sector because of the heightened importance of security and national status amidst a perceived return to great power competition. A new generation of public-private partnerships offered the only strategy for spacefaring states to attain and maintain a competitive position in an environment where non-state actors can match government accomplishments and capabilities. However, the utility of current integrative policy threatens to globalize not only the strengths but also the weaknesses of New Space, undercutting the very goals their adoption was meant to achieve.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 101626"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140793076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101612
Thomas Hoerber
{"title":"Introduction to the special issue on international space politics","authors":"Thomas Hoerber","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101612","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 101612"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139814124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101613
C.T. Rees , J.R. Catchpole , K.A. Ryden
{"title":"A discussion on policies and regulations governing the risks associated with radiation exposure for space tourism flight participants","authors":"C.T. Rees , J.R. Catchpole , K.A. Ryden","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Within the next decade it is likely that the space tourism industry will grow and the number of humans travelling into space via commercial entities such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, will increase significantly. Current space tourism ventures focus on short duration sub-orbital flights and visits to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In the next few decades, a journey into space could become as normal as a transatlantic flight. During these new commercial ventures, the effects of cosmic radiation exposure, especially during sudden changes in space weather, such as ground level enhancement (GLE) or solar particle events (SPEs), could have significant health implications for crew and passengers. Such changes in space weather could expose space tourists to radiation doses in excess of the recommended maximum 1 mSv yearly effective dose uptake for a member of the public and 20 mSv yearly effective dose limit for those working with radiation (ICRP Publication 103, 2007 [1]). Domestic legislation and regulation focussing on potential radiation exposure for space tourists is limited and largely untested; there is heavy focus on conventional risk and wider safety, with guidance stemming from regulation of commercial high-level flights, which are significantly different to space tourism enterprises.</p><p>In this paper we consider the current domestic legislation and regulations adopted by the USA and the UK, as two examples of launch nations with legislation and regulation relating to space tourism activities. We acknowledge and consider feedback we have received from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on current regulations and topics outlined in this paper. We discuss whether current legislation and regulation offers sufficient protection for space flight participants (space tourists), and whether risk is balanced appropriately between the operators who provide space tourism services and those taking part. Finally, we discuss the routes to acceptance of the radiation risks and make recommendations for legislators, regulators and operators to support them in ensuring that the risks are managed appropriately while also supporting the development of the industry.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 101613"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265964624000043/pdfft?md5=d605764fbf812d3b665fba4b46f6d7bf&pid=1-s2.0-S0265964624000043-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139817706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101624
Maximilien Berthet , Riccardo Corrado
{"title":"Review and comparison of three emerging regional space agencies: the African Space Agency, the Arab Space Coordination Group, and the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency","authors":"Maximilien Berthet , Riccardo Corrado","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Groups of nations with aligned strategic interests on Earth are joining forces to bolster their interests in space. In particular, within the last six years three new regional space agencies have been formed in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. These are the African Space Agency (AfSA), the Arab Space Coordination Group (ASCG), and the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE). In this study, a regional space agency is defined as an organisation with actor quality established between multiple national governments, underpinned by legal instruments, to promote cooperation across the full spectrum of space sector activities, with participation from most countries within an extended geographical area. This paper provides the first comprehensive review and comparison of the AfSA, ASCG, and ALCE, at a time when all three agencies are still in their infancy and being operationalised. Their history, current status, and future prospects are charted, drawing upon diverse media including in local languages. The European Space Agency (ESA), the oldest regional space agency, is included as a reference point. The study is expected to be useful for local policymakers as well as those in other regions considering the creation of a regional space agency, such as Southeast Asia.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 101624"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140468013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101597
Massimo Florio , Paolo Castelnovo , Matteo Landoni , Veronica Lupi , Valentina Morretta , Davide Vurchio , Lorenzo Zirulia , Simonetta Di Ciaccio , Mauro Piermaria
{"title":"Accounting for the impact of space policies: The case of the Italian Space Agency","authors":"Massimo Florio , Paolo Castelnovo , Matteo Landoni , Veronica Lupi , Valentina Morretta , Davide Vurchio , Lorenzo Zirulia , Simonetta Di Ciaccio , Mauro Piermaria","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101597","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101597","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The purpose of this work is assessing the impact of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) on the performance of the Italian space stakeholders through three specific policies, i.e. public procurement, public investment in Earth observation, and collaboration with the scientific community. This article explores multiple surveys targeting upstream and downstream companies, universities, and research centres in the space economy to estimates the cost-benefit ratio. We find that the socio-economic benefit of ASI policies is positive and, when considering upstream companies and downstream intermediate users in the field of Earth observation (EO), the impact is particularly high in the EO sector. The surveys show evidence of a positive effect of public procurement and EO data on the Italian space economy, both in terms of innovation and economic performance. Finally, we observe a significant impact of ASI also on the scientific community.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 101597"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139538898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Space PolicyPub Date : 2024-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101600
Vijay Varadharajan , Neeraj Suri
{"title":"Security challenges when space merges with cyberspace","authors":"Vijay Varadharajan , Neeraj Suri","doi":"10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101600","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Space borne systems, such as communication satellites, sensory, surveillance, GPS and a multitude of other functionalities, form an integral part of global ICT cyber infrastructures. However, a focused discourse highlighting the distinctive threats landscape of these space borne assets is conspicuous by its absence. This article specifically considers the interplay of Space and Cyberspace to highlight security challenges that warrant dedicated attention in securing these complex infrastructures. This article additionally adds summary opinions on (a) emerging technology trends and (b) advocacy on technological and policy issues needed to support security responsiveness and mitigation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45924,"journal":{"name":"Space Policy","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 101600"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026596462300067X/pdfft?md5=7974717f90939d6e311ee34b2ec76568&pid=1-s2.0-S026596462300067X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139915193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}