Europe in the Global Space Economy (SpringerBriefs in Space Development)

This book analyzes the policies and space economy programs of major space-faring nations and explores whether the present institutional set-up in Europe is adequate to address the challenges. At the core of the discussion are the relative roles of governments and markets in a highly dynamic panorama that involves advancements in science, modifications in technology and organization, and the introduction of new rules of behavior. After a close examination of the history of development of the space economy, and the shift from the centralized model to deregulation and the opening up of space activities to commercial companies, a wide-ranging overview of global space governance is provided. National and regional perspectives are discussed, and the current role of commercial actors in the global space system is elucidated. The various challenges faced by Europe are then examined, including the threat posed by institutional and market fragmentation to the emergence of European companies able to compete with companies of nations such as the USA. The final part of the book analyzes proposals for reforming of the space system in Europe and offers a vision for future European space policy. Preface 7 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 11 Contents 13 1 The Development of the Space Economy (1950–2000) 15 1.1 The Space Race Marks the Beginning 15 1.2 Many Space Agencies Enter the Space Arena 21 1.3 The US and Soviet Government Satellites’ Programs 22 1.4 The Dawn of Commercial Satellite Activities 23 1.5 Open Sky Policy 25 1.6 Earth Observation Satellites 26 1.7 The State of the Art at the End of the Century 28 References 31 2 The Third Phase of the Evolution of the Space Economy (2000-Today) and Its Foreseeable Developments 32 2.1 The Space Economy as a Rapidly Growing Reality 32 2.2 The Commercial Space Infrastructure and Support Industries 34 2.3 The Global Satellite-Manufacturing Sector 37 2.4 The Global Satellite Services Market 39 2.5 Space Economy Tomorrow 41 2.5.1 Constellations to Offer Planetary Internet Connectivity: Promises and Drawbacks 42 2.5.2 On Orbit Servicing 44 2.5.3 Commercial Space Stations 45 2.5.4 Moving Beyond Earth Orbit 46 2.6 Space Economy in Today’s Evolving Panorama 53 References 54 3 On the Reasons of European Fragmentation 55 3.1 Introduction 55 3.2 Overview of Global Institutional Space Budgets 57 3.3 European Institutional Fragmentation 57 3.3.1 European Space Governance 57 3.3.2 Space and Security: Space as Strategic and Reliable Asset 58 3.3.3 The European Union 62 3.3.4 The European Space Agency 65 3.4 National Space Agencies at European Level 70 3.4.1 French Space Agency 71 3.4.2 German Space Agency 73 3.4.3 Italian Space Agency 74 3.4.4 Evolution of Public Procurement 76 References 79 4 On the Consequences of European Fragmentation 82 4.1 Institutional Fragmentation 82 4.1.1 Coordination of Member State Activities 82 4.1.2 Consequences on the Market 84 4.1.3 Earth Observation Lack of an International Regulatory Framework and the European Approaches 87 4.1.4 Consequences on Diplomacy 94 4.1.5 Consequences on Industrial and Programmatic Efficiency 95 References 97 5 Does Europe Need a Space Revolution? 99 5.1 When Numbers Cannot be Ignored 100 5.2 Challenges Facing Europe 104 5.3 Political Benefits from a Space Revolution 106 References 106