Roadmap to a Space Faring Civilization
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ROADMAP TO A SPACE FARING CIVILIZATION Suggestions for the commercial development of space. NASA ACADEMY Goddard Space Flight Center August 2008 Version 1.0 08.07.08 Dedication This paper is dedicated to Dr. Gerald Soffen, for his visionary creation and love of the Academy Acknowledgments We would like to thank the following people for their contributions to this project. Ken Davidian NASA Headquarters Dr. Joseph DiRienzi NASA Academy William Pomerantz X PRIZE Foundation Introduction Exploring and developing new frontiers has been a basis for economic growth and sustained development in the world throughout history. Private development of these frontiers has created countless jobs and vast fortunes. The next great frontier is space. Leaving the planet in search of information, entertainment, and resources will be a driving force in the future of our economies and will be required to sustain the current standards of living to which so many have become accustomed. Humankind is capable of exploring and developing space, and this paper will describe how to accelerate this expansion by facilitating the commercial development of space. Definitions Space faring civilization – A space faring civilization is defined as one with frequent, safe, reliable, and economically stable transport to space. This would include commercial access to space for both crew and cargo. The civilization would have a permanent off-planet presence and would be permanently exploring the solar system with human and robotic missions. Finally this civilization would utilize resources from space and have mutual commercial trade between Earth and sites such as Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, asteroids and beyond. Commercial development – fostering industrial profits based on the free-market sale and purchase of space-related products. This industry would serve government and non-government customers, but ultimately will exist independent of government funding. Space development – private investment in space technologies, capabilities, and infrastructure such that commercial entities work in and profit from space. The Roadmap Below is an outline of the proposals we have generated to overcome the current and future hurdles of commercial space development. These topics are explained and detailed in the Roadmap section of the paper. I. Commercial Development Policy 1. Make agency-wide policy 2. Continue dialogue with commercial sector II. Commercial Technology Transfer 1. IPP, SBIR, STTR a. Sustain/increase funding for programs b. Promote companies after funding is over c. Provide technical assistance d. Monitor and better document economic impact of spin-offs e. NASA-developed software should be open source when possible 2. Commercial product usage a. Continue to use when possible b. Commercial should be first choice when available III. Infrastructure 1. Launch sites a. Phase out government funding when private funding is sufficient b. Expand FAA-AST funding to facilitate licensing of launches/vehicles 2. Launching to LEO a. Continue to fund COTS b. Exercise COTS-D option for commercial crew transport c. Purchase commercial transport when available 3. Orbital refueling a. Continue verbal support of idea b. Offer technology demonstration prize for cryogenic on-orbit fuel storage c. Support private construction by being customer 4. Lunar surface delivery a. Develop Funded Space Act Agreement i. Direct cargo delivery ii. Cargo delivery with automated rendezvous and docking 5. Lunar surface transportation a. Share dust mitigation and other technologies when possible b. Self-dependent technology application by other entities 6. Communication and data relay a. Replace/supplement DSN for lunar operations i. Earth and lunar orbit relays ii. Evolvable and updatable satellites iii. Government regulated, commercially operated IV. Accelerators 1. Public engagement a. Facilitate public connection to individual astronauts b. Create more astronaut-to-public communication (TV, internet, etc.) c. Engage the public with interaction capabilities d. Better explain mission objectives e. Clearly convey the risks of each mission 2. Educational engagement a. Excite students with long-term destination-driven program b. Government and private education support i. Funding to ensure science and math teachers have background in subjects ii. Educate students about benefits of science and technology c. Private company engagement i. Expand internship and co-op programs to train future workforce 3. Start-up companies a. Organizations such as Space Angels Network should be expanded b. Companies must show mutual respect for each other c. Design business plans with milestone technologies to market d. Engage non-aerospace investment markets (tourism, entertainment, biotech, energy, etc.) 4. Space based solar power a. Continue funding in solar cell technology b. Assign project to specific agency (DoE recommended) i. Energy Research and Development Organization c. Initial congressional funding of small $10 million feasibility study d. NASA should continue to fund and operate Power Beaming Challenge 5. Biotechnology in space a. Private utilization of International Space Station i. Federal subsidies for initial ISS research launch costs ii. Support expanded micro-gravity research iii. Charge for ISS usage based on timetable as commercial capabilities emerge 6. Prizes a. NASA must invest more in prizes b. Proposed lunar environment characterization prizes i. NASA only pays for successful data ii. Private companies can generate added income to missions c. Further prizes proposed for other key technology demonstrations V. Government Policy 1. Liability a. Extend launch liability indemnification (Currently expires December 31, 2009) 2. Anchor tenancy a. Laws and regulations around anchor tenancy must be clarified b. NASA should sign anchor tenancy agreements with commercial space transportation companies i. Definite end date required 3. ITAR a. Evaluate United States Munitions List to remove technology currently available from other countries i. Allow American companies to compete in these markets b. Streamline licensing process i. Continue/complete change to electronic licensing system ii. Provide free training for companies about ITAR compliance c. Clarify guidelines on ITAR regulations and regulated materials d. Inform the public and Congress of consequences of legislation on emerging sector 4. Intellectual property rights a. IP must be protected when private companies work with NASA i. Continue support of Bayh-Dole Act, Stevenson-Wydler Act, Technology Transfer Act ii. NASA Policy should be to grant IP waivers when requested b. International patent protection is needed i. Technology development in space must be protected c. NASA Advisory Council (NAC) role should be expanded i. Give budget to fund cutting edge research – similar to NACA ii. Administer funds to appropriate researchers to drive research on specific technical hurdles 5. Historical Moon a. Protect historic sites until framework for preservation is in place i. Leave certain artifacts for on-site observation ii. Return others for research and Earth-based museums b. International agreement on preservation is needed 6. Lunar property a. Legislation should be international among space faring nations i. Historic sites should be internationally protected ii. Private ownership should be based on utilization and improvement of area iii. Moon can no longer be considered ―common heritage of all mankind‖ Conclusions Other sections of the paper include a look at the feasibility of commercial space as well as what a successful space faring civilization may look like. These considerations are addressed to show the context and importance of a robust commercial space sector. Possible benefits might include new jobs, new technologies, and higher standards of living. NASA could also see direct benefits from a thriving commercial space sector, which might include cheaper space rated hardware and access to space as a result of open market competition between providers. Savings at NASA have the potential to allow the agency to focus more resources on deep space exploration and cutting edge technology research. This future is fully realizable and work towards these goals must begin now. Many more hurdles and suggestions than addressed here will appear. This paper aims to take the next small step and be the basis for further study. The collective genius of entrepreneurs, inventors, and innovators will be required to solve the many obstacles that will stand in the way. As past generations conquered the untamed seas to develop the ―new world‖ or traversed the vast plains to tame the ―wild west,‖ this one must set out with determination to overcome the shackles of gravity. It is imperative for the future that free-market capabilities and commercial entities extend humanity into space. Table of Contents Introduction ...............................................................................................................................1 1.0 Feasibility of Commercial Space Development ....................................................................3 1.1 Space Industry Overview .............................................................................................3 1.1.1 Performance of the Space Industry to Date ..................................................................3 1.1.2 Projections ..................................................................................................................4 1.2 Commercial Space Demands .......................................................................................4