z 49
Rationales for Space Agency establishment
M
any countries are also looking to the space domain to meet socioeconomic development goals. In their research of the formation of new space agencies between 2014 and 2019, Knittel Kommel et al. (2020) identify six categories of space agency establishment rationale: economic, socioeconomic, coordination, centralization, geopolitical, and regulatory (see box below). Their report found that most countries established space agencies based on a combination of rationales, but the two highest scoring motivating factors among newly founded space agencies included socioeconomic and economic rationales, at 21.2% and 27.3% respectively.288
The case study analysis of this report also identifies economic and socioeconomic factors as key drivers of space ambitions among selected emerging spacefaring countries. In Saudi Arabia, economic diversification plans are underway to attract foreign investment and generate thousands of jobs.291 Space is central Vision 2030 plans for economic reform and diversification, as the country seeks to shift from a resource-based economy.292 Similarly, in the case of South Africa, the space program sits at the center of broader socioeconomic goals. The South African space program focuses on three priority areas: i) environmental resource management, ii) health, safety and security, and iii) innovation and economy.293
Six categories of rationale for space program establishment:289 ➢ Economic: Focused on generating economic growth (GDP). ➢ Socioeconomic: Prioritizing the improvement of national welfare, using space data and applications to improve governance and enhance sectors e.g. agriculture, environment. ➢ Coordination: Integrating activities across national academic, commercial, and government space sectors. ➢ Centralization: Combining dispersed government space sector activities and actors into one agency. ➢ Geopolitical: Enhancing national security, facilitating participation in the international space community, building status as a spacefaring country. ➢ Regulatory: Managing the space sector by establishing a regulatory framework, complying with international law. 290
288
Knittel Kommel, R. K., Peter, A. Puig-Hall, M., Riesbeck, L. (2020) Exploring Insights from Emerging Space agencies. https://aerospace.csis.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020_GWU_ExploringInsights_FINAL_2nd-Edits-101920-compressed.pdf 289 Ibid. 290 Ibid. 291 Rashad (2020). 292 Space Watch (2022) Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: A Golden Opportunity for Space?. https://spacewatch.global/2016/05/saudi-arabias-vision-2030-golden-opportunity-space-2/ 293 Feldscher (2019).
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SPACE
INTERPLANETARY INITIATIVE
