ISAM - It Could Change the Space Industry and Bring Tech Improvements Back to Earth
Description
Space is increasingly important to the daily lives of Americans, to the economy, and to national defense. Future improvements in space technology could open new capabilities, such as the harvesting of space-based solar energy, manufacture of better medicines, and human deep-space exploration. However, many such capabilities would require a shift away from the current paradigm of "single use" -- launching complete satellites from Earth and never touching them again.
ISAM could extend the lives of satellites, improve cost effectiveness of space activities, enable greater mobility, facilitate removal of space debris, enable much larger space telescopes, and facilitate construction of other very large structures in space, on the moon, or on other planets. However, the development of ISAM faces various challenges, and its potential benefits have not been fully weighed against the costs.
Our tech assessment identified five policy options that policymakers -- Congress, federal government agencies, academia, the satellite industry, standards-setting organizations, and other groups -- could consider taking to help address the challenges to the development and use of ISAM.
ISAM could extend the lives of satellites, improve cost effectiveness of space activities, enable greater mobility, facilitate removal of space debris, enable much larger space telescopes, and facilitate construction of other very large structures in space, on the moon, or on other planets. However, the development of ISAM faces various challenges, and its potential benefits have not been fully weighed against the costs.
Our tech assessment identified five policy options that policymakers -- Congress, federal government agencies, academia, the satellite industry, standards-setting organizations, and other groups -- could consider taking to help address the challenges to the development and use of ISAM.