| Surveys of U.S. citizens show wide variations in their attitudes towards the
space program and towards the purpose and meaning of the government's
investments in space. These divergent opinions are primarily caused by the
different perspectives of the respondents. A school-age child expressing the
awe of deep space travel and explorations is a simpler but perhaps no less
profound rationale than a Nobel prize-winning physicist viewing space as a
vast laboratory for research into the origins of matter. A businessman
would speak of the opportunity for potentially large new markets and profits
that the special technologies offered by space activities could provide, and
a politician might view space activities as a perfect forum for promoting
international cooperations.
Other objectives can be added to the list, including defense and national
security, stimulating science and engineering education, environmental
monitoring of the Earth, and simply a cultural devotion to exploring the
unknown and finding answer's to life's mysteries.
Such divergent views have always been part of the space program's history.
However, what was essentially relegated to debates within the government
about the military and civilian uses of space between the end of World War
II and the launching of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957 has now
blossomed into a national awareness of both the public and private
opportunities for space activities. As with any successful research and
development program, what was once concentrated in one place (in this case,
NASA) has now found applications in many places. Within government agencies
such as the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Interior, State, Commerce
and Trnaportation special offices have been established to oversee their
constitutent's interests in space activities. In the private sectora
similiar spreading of interests has occured. Originally only the very large
aerospace companies were involved in space activites, primarly as
contractors to NASA. Today there are thousands of companies providing goos
and services for space activities. Many other private companies are
investing or planning to invest substantial captial to form business vetures
to provide direct access to space. This was, until recently, solely the
province of governments.
The nature of space activities virtually dictates the active participation of
the government will remain critical to continued vitality of public and
private initiatives in space. However, as the space program matures, many
current governmental functions can be transferred to private operations.
Anticipating where the government is likely to remain involved is,
therefore, an important part of anticpating the emerging commercial
oppotunities. The purpose of this report is to provide and economic
perpective on space, and to use that perspective to anticipate the changing
role of the government as well as the emerging oppurtunities for the private
sector in space activities.
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