Role of Space Technology and Infrastructure

The objective of this book is to identify, describe and analyse the benefits to national space agencies, space companies, non-space companies and private investors, from the commercial use of space-based technology and services from human spaceflight and interplanetary space missions 1. In this book the different aspects of commercialisation of space technology and the new markets and space applications in the context of today's society needs are analysed. Furthermore, in it there is an analysis of the market trends taking place in today's' space industry and its competitiveness, the changes taking place within the industry and the changing space agencies industrialisation policies The development of commercial crew and cargo services, the development of new low cost launchers and sub-orbital vehicles, the emergence of a space tourism market, the construction of solar power satellites and space ports, are recent trends taking place in the space industry. These new developments are only possible because of the capital invested by private investors and entrepreneurs, who understand the importance of space technology in our day to day lives. However, in order to be able to achieve technology innovation and in parallel sustain private funding, companies will have to have to consider the benefits from commercialisa-tion of space technology so that they can develop viable business cases. Measuring the economic impact from the use of space-based technology and learning lessons from MIR and ISS commercialisation and the aviation industry, will support identifying direct and indirect benefits from space technology commercialisation. The direct benefits will be employment, revenues from sales, new markets, cost savings, employment and technology reliability/interoperability, while the indirect benefits will be free publicity, technology innovation, international cooperation/partnerships and environment protection. The above benefits definition will support companies in projects assessment through performing cost benefit analyses. Finally in this book there is an analysis of the space tourism market and two business cases one on mitigation and removal of space debris and the second one on solar power satellites use for energy provision.