The Summit discussion was influenced by the renewed emphasis on national and international security concerns and the significant downturn in commercial space markets. Participants emphasized that space technologies and capabilities have a unique ability to address many of the challenges facing the world.

The meeting offered a valuable opportunity to share opinions and concerns in a private and frank forum for 39 international leaders from government and industry of 16 nations and 5 international organizations. Among those represented were 12 national space agencies, 12 aerospace corporations, and 8 additional government agencies. The Summit was the culmination of more than a year©ˆs work by international space policy experts who identified the key policy areas that helped shape the agenda. The Summit was hosted by the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and sponsored by the Lockheed Martin Corporation.

“As government and private sectors pursue the use of space for everything from satellite communications to human spaceflight, a coherent and effective policy to regulate such activities will be of paramount importance,” said Edward Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute. “The Baker Institute was pleased to host the first Space Policy Summit in coordination with AIAA and Lockheed Martin. We think it is a very promising start for future deliberations with a view toward policy recommendation to decision makers.”

“In bringing together key space leaders from around the globe for a cooperative dialog,” said Dr. Brian Dailey, Vice President – International of AIAA, “the Space Summit has provided the framework and path forward for addressing the most compelling challenges facing world space endeavors.”

There were three sessions at the Summit, each one highlighting a separate area of discussion: commercial space activities; space exploration; and space applications. A fourth session on international security space issues will be convened in the spring of 2003.

A number of crosscutting issues emerged from the Summit. Cooperation in space can provide a foundation to expand relationships among nations in many areas. Space organizations should make a more concerted effort to engage and make the world public more aware of space activities and the specific benefits and impact on their lives. Space also has a unique power to inspire youth to study math and science, which will have long-term workforce benefits.

Commercial Space Issues:

  • Today’s commercial satellite market is not sufficient to sustain current space launch systems or justify industry investment in new systems and technologies. Government support is necessary for the foreseeable future to achieve national objectives in the security, civil, and commercial sectors.

  • In many cases, government funding or requirements lead to the development of new technologies and applications. Once the development is mature, industry develops commercial products and services based on those applications.

  • Although export controls on space related technologies reflect legitimate national security and non-proliferation concerns, they limit international cooperation and inhibit growth of the commercial sector. Governments should harmonize export control requirements according to true national security needs and create timely, predictable and transparent systems for licensing space technologies, and they may consider a multinational approach to solve these challenges.

  • Dual-use space systems can efficiently and reliably serve users in both the public and private sectors.

Space Exploration Issues:

  • Discoveries to be made through space exploration are inexhaustible. There continues to be great interest in space exploration, both robotic and human. Following the notable history of international cooperation throughout the course of the space program, it was accepted that space exploration is a global endeavor, and we need a vision looking beyond space station that involves robotics, human exploration and the search for life, looking toward the Moon, Mars and beyond.

  • The Summit participants recognized that the International Space Station program represents an unprecedented technical achievement and expressed confidence that, despite current problems, it will be successful and that it provides a model for international cooperation.

  • Space exploration is a marathon, not a sprint. As such, it should be pursued as a step-by-step progression that involves sustained, systematic improvements in scientific understanding and enabling technologies, such as advanced in-space propulsion and power generation systems.

Space Applications Issues:

  • Data access is still a problem in certain circumstances, although the cost of the raw data itself may be a minor contributor to the overall cost of value added products. If requests are defined to meet specific needs (e.g., in pursuance of Integrated Global Observing Strategy themes) rather than as a blanket demand, it may enhance data availability from providers.

  • Remote sensing programs are increasingly being defined by user requirements, rather than being defined by space data providers, which is a welcome trend.

  • The Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Partnership is a first real step toward a global Earth observing system, and is providing a foundation on which to build. It is important to use and strengthen existing activities (such as IGOS, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, and the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters) and not try to create new mechanisms.

The organizers of the Space Policy Summit encourage all participants and other individuals to actively follow up on the subjects discussed. An example of such a follow-up activity is an initiative undertaken by the AIAA’s International Activities Committee (IAC). The IAC’s 7th International Space Cooperation Workshop will be hosted by the International Space University at its central campus in Strasbourg, France, 4-8 May 2003. This invitation-only event will focus on a number of the key issues discussed by participants at the Summit. For information on this series of workshops, please visit: http://www.aiaa.org/international.

For further information on the World Space Summit please visit: http://www.aiaa.org/spacepolicy