University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Documents on Outer Space Law Law, College of 6-1982 Civilian Space Policy and Applications U.S. Office ofechnology T Assessment Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/spacelawdocs Part of the Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons, and the Public Policy Commons U.S. Office ofechnology T Assessment, "Civilian Space Policy and Applications" (1982). Documents on Outer Space Law. 16. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/spacelawdocs/16 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law, College of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Documents on Outer Space Law by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Civilian Space Policy and Applications June 1982 NTIS order #PB82-234444 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 82-600564 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 . Foreword This assessment responds to a request to the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for an evaluation of the present state and possible future directions of space applications technologies in the civilian sector. Four technologies are examined in detail: satellite communications, land remote sensing, materials processing in space, and space transportation. In addition, the assessment investigates the national policy that has guided the development of these and other applications technologies. For the past quarter century, the United States has been the acknowledged world leader in the exploration of space and the use of technologies developed to operate in the space environment. Now, however, the United States faces increasing foreign competition in many areas of the space program, particularly in applications with commercial promise. Civilian Space Policy and Applications examines several means for addressing this competitive challenge. In particular, it investigates the options available for the future deployment of U.S. land remote-sensing systems, and explores the status of advanced satellite communications research within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Further, the report assesses the potential for manufacturing useful products in space and for commercializing space transportation systems. OTA was greatly aided by the advice of the project advisory panel, as well as by participants in several specialized workshops. The contributions of contractors, who provided important analyses, and of numerous individuals and organizations that gave generously of their time and knowledge, are gratefully appreciated. Director .,. Ill .—— . — . — Civilian Space Policy and Applications Advisory Panel Jerry Grey, Chairman American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Fred E. Bradley Michael B. McElroy McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. Center for Earth and Planetary Physics Sam Brown Harvard University Private Consultant James A. Michener John G. Burke Author Department of History Bernard J. O’Keefe University of California EG&G, Inc. Hal Clement (Harry Stubbs) Thomas O. Paine Author Northrop Corp. Terry Dawson, Jr. Merton J. Peck The Analytic Sciences Corp. Department of Economics Hugh Downs Yale University American Broadcasting Co. Charles Sheldon * Daniel J. Fink Science Policy Research Division General Electric Co. Congressional Research Service Arnold Frutkin Marcia Smith The Burroughs Corp. Science Policy Research Division “ Congressional Research Service Eilene Galloway International Institute of Space Law of the Martin Summerfield Princeton Combustion Research Laboratories, Inc. Ivan Getting Verner E. Suomi Consultant Space Science & Engineering Center University of Wisconsin Willis M. Hawkins . Lockheed Corp. Anthony F. C. Wallace Department of Anthropology Ida R. Hoos University of Pennsylvania Space Sciences Laboratory University of California Roy A. Welch Department of Geography James A. Loveli University of Georgia Fisk Telephone Systems, Inc. NOTE: The Advisory Panel provided advice and comment throughout the assessment, but the members do not necessarily approve, disapprove, or endorse the report for which OTA assumes full responsibility. * Deceased, iv Civilian Space Policy and Applications Project Staff John Andelin, Assistant Director OTA Science, Information, and Natural Resources Division Ray A. Williamson, Project Director Adam Wasserman Philip P. Chandler, II Richard DalBello* Gordon Law Richard Marsten** Thomas Thornberg*** Contributors Scott Finer Donna Valtri Administrative Staff paula Walden Jannie Coles Marion Fitzhugh Jean G. Monroe Contractors Trudy Bell Leonard David Russell Drew Rowland lnlow John Logsdon Thomas Potts Edward Risley OTA Publishing Staff John C. Holmes, Publishing Officer John Bergling Kathie S. Boss Debra M. Datcher Joe Henson ● In-house contractor ● ● project Director until March 1981. ***On detail from NASA (Septem!xr 1980 September 1981) Workshop on Policy Alternatives Jerry Grey, Chairman John Logsdon Robert Shaw American Institute of Aeronautics Technoscience Associates Exxon Enterprises and Astronautics Arthur Morrissey Jerome Simonoff Russell Drew Office of Science and Technology Citibank Science and Technology Consultants Policy David Williamson Executive Office of the President Louis Friedman NASA Headquarters Planetary Society Willis Shapley Private Consultant Ronald Konkel Planning Offices National Bureau of Standards Workshop on Commercialization of Land Remote Sensing Ralph Bernstein Robert Greenberg Charles Sheffield IBM Scientific Center Private Consultant Earth Satellite Corp. Dennis Burnett Leonard Jaffe Don Walklet COMSAT Computer Sciences Corp. Terra-Mar Associates Charles Dannaman Vladimir Naleskewicz R. Gordon Williams Space Operations Group Satellite Systems Engineering TRW Electronics and Defense General Electric Co. David Ferguson Information Systems and Services Workshop Materials Processing in Space Darrell Branscome Charles Fritts John Logsdon Committee on Science and National Productivity Group Graduate Program in Science, Technology U.S. General Accountimz Office Technology, and Public Policy U.S. House-of Representatives Laurence Gilchrist George Washington University Joseph E. Coleman Space Applications Board Louis Testardi McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. National Research Council Material Processing in Space Divison David Cummings James A. Kirk National Aeronautics and Space Universities Space Research Department of Mechanical Administration Associations Engineering Donald Edgecombe The University of Maryland Battelle Columbus Laboratories Workshop on International Issues in Commercial Space Systems Jean-Pierre Fouquet Ryo Kimura Wilfred Mellors Scientific Attache for S~ace Affairs International Space Division European Space Agency o Science & Technology Embassy of France Kenneth Pederson Agency Embassy of Japan Tadahico Inada International Affairs NASDA Representative Sebastian Lasher NASA Headquarters Embassy of Japan INTELSAT Workshop on Space Transportation Issues W. C. Armstrong Gilbert Keyes Robert White Northrop Services, Inc. Boeing Aerospace Co. General Dynamics Corp. William French Gilbert Moore James Wilson United Technology Corp. Thiokol Corp. McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co, Chuck Gould Morgan Sanborn Kenneth Zitek Rockwell International Corp. Rockwell International Corp. Martin Marietta Aerospace Corp. Don Ingram Charles Tringali Grumman Aerospace Corp. Lockheed Corp. vi Workshop on Remote Sensing: Government User Concerns Wolf Drews Charles parrish Edward Risley World Bank Earth Resources Data Analysis Department of the Interior Roland Inlow Charles Paul William Wigton OAO Agency for International Department of Agriculture Development Ahmed Meer Richard Williams Department of State Irv Pikus U.S. Geological Survey National Science Foundation James Nycum U.S. Genera! Accounting Office Bruce Rado Georgia State Department of National Resources Acknowledge ments OTA thanks the following people who took time to provide information or to review part or all of the study. john Alic S. E. James William Raney Office of Technology Assessment FSD Houston NASA Headquarters IBM Corp. john Benson Edward Risley Private Consultant David Johnson U.S. Geological Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Department of the Interior Marjorie Blumenthal Administration Office of Technology Assessment A. Schnapf D. J. Jones, Jr. RCA Astroelectronics Division Harvey Brooks General Dynamic Convair Division RCA Corp. Harvard University Systems Development Corp. Willis Shapley j. R. Burnett Thomas Karas Private Consultant Defense Systems Group Private Consultant TWR, Inc. peter Sharfman G. W. Keyes Office of Technology Assessment R. P. Buschmann Boeing Aerospace Co. Lockheed Corp. Michael Simon R. L. Kline National Aeronautics and Space Joseph Coleman Grumman Aerospace Corp. Administration McDonnell Douglas Astronautics CO. Sebastian Lasher Delbert Smith William Colglazier INTELSAT COMSAT Harvard University Pamela Mack Norman Terrell Burt CowIan Private Consultant Arms Control and Disarmament Private Consultant Agency Joseph Mahon Kenneth Craib National Aeronautics and Space Louis Testardi Resource Development Corp. Administration Materials Processing in Space Ray Crowe!! Division M. J. Maltagliati Office of Technology Assessment National Aeronautics and Space Aerospace Industries Association of Administration Jean Pierre Fouquet America, Inc.