z 51
Benefits of equitable access to space
T
he international space community can greatly benefit from becoming more equitable and inclusive. More space players could mean a greater number of unique geographic access points to launch payloads into orbit. Brazil’s Alcântara launch center, for example, holds considerable potential as the closest active site to the Equator, which could promise lower launch costs and fuel requirements.297 As space sectors evolve in countries around the world, they present new market opportunities in both the upstream and downstream segments of the international space economy (see box below).
Upstream and Downstream Space Economy Upstream: Research, space manufacturing, ground infrastructure equipment, instruments etc. Downstream: Data, space-dependent products, and services (communications, navigation etc.)299
For example, in addition to launch products and services, Brazil is likely to require Earth monitoring services to help mitigate climatic risks and track agricultural activities in the Amazon. Similarly, South Africa will continue to require satellite data to monitor
its shoreline.298 Markets are emerging in new countries, increasing demand for more products. A proliferation of space actors and more demand for upstream and downstream products/services could drive economies of scale, while potentially enhancing efficiency and competition in global supply chains. In 2020, Space X won a logistics contract for the NASA Lunar Gateway program, to deliver payloads aboard the large Falcon launcher. The contract is firm-fixed price, with indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity for services, guaranteeing two missions per logistics provider to a maximum value of $7 billion.300 This signifies a step forward for the Artemis program, enabling NASA to order missions for up to 12 years with a 15year performance period and the ability to add new competitive providers.301 Contracts such as these are potential gamechangers, bringing commercial competition and innovation to government programs. As more countries collaborate on space, there is also more opportunity to pool and share major costs, including procurement or research and development. New countries may find innovative uses for existing services and downstream data, which could generate major benefits and solve important problems, such as climate-related issues (see Chapter Five). In general, a larger space community could facilitate information consolidation. Climate data, disaster relief
297
Milani (2019). Feldscher (2019). ESA (2019) Measuring the Space Economy. https://space-economy.esa.int/article/34/measuring-the-space-economy 300 NASA (2020) NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Gateway Logistics Services. 27 March 2020. https://www.nasa.gov/pressrelease/nasa-awards-artemis-contract-for-gateway-logistics-services 301 Ibid. 298 299
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SPACE
INTERPLANETARY INITIATIVE
