by When people think of what we get from the US space program, it might seem like NASA technological spin-offs like freeze-dried food and emergency space blankets.
But space activities do much more that benefits life on Earth. Research in space helps scientists study our environment, develop new technologies, create jobs, grow the economy and foster international cooperation.
Of course, with reports of Russia developing an anti-satellite nuclear weapon, members of Congress and the media turned their attention to space defense and military preparedness.
This is crucial, but there are still many other benefits to be gained from space. Optimizing US space engagement will require collaboration across diverse social, environmental, commercial, governmental, international, and technological backgrounds.
As a scholar of space policy focused on private-public partnerships, networks and alliances, I have seen that policymakers can get the most out of US space efforts if they invite a wide range of experts into policy discussions.
Benefits on Earth
NASA satellites play a critical role in documenting changes in global temperature, sea level rise, arctic ice extent and air quality. Satellites have also been collecting data for nearly 50 years to monitor water use, crop health and crop production. These long-term observations help researchers track environmental changes around the globe.
Space research provides a wide range of technologies as well as rockets and moon landings. Cell phone cameras, CAT scanners, the computer mouse, laptops, wireless headphones and water purification systems are just a few public goods created by NASA.
These spin-off technologies come from NASA’s partnerships with private firms, which in turn make scientific discoveries widely available and accessible.
Growing the space economy
Experts predict that the space sector will continue to drive the development of nonspace industries. Agriculture, energy, mining, transport and pharmaceuticals are just some of the sectors that benefit from extra technologies and space-based research.
For example, scientists can conduct experiments on the International Space Station using the microgravity of space to study drug chemistry, improve medications and test cancer treatments.
More organizations and individuals than ever before have a vested interest in the success of the space sector. Experts expect the global space economy – the resources used in space for activities – and research and development will continue to grow to a US$1.4 trillion market by 2030.
Commercialization policies opened US space activities to the private sector. This has resulted in partnerships with companies, such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and others, that are growing the space economy.
These companies have launched more and more rockets and deployed satellites in recent years. This has increased the need for workers, both in manufacturing jobs and in specialized STEM roles. In addition, private companies and universities are partnering to develop various technologies, such as landing systems for returning to the Moon from the US.
Communities that host space industry centers have seen economic and educational benefits. For example, Huntsville, Alabama, home of the Marshall Space Flight Center and the US Space and Rocket Center, has attracted a skilled workforce with one of the highest rates of engineers per capita. Nearly half of Huntsville residents over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
This rate is in stark contrast to the national average, where 37% have at least a bachelor’s degree, and the state average of 27%. Additionally, Huntsville’s median annual household income is $8,000 higher than the Alabama average.
Since 1982, Huntsville has hosted over 750,000 students at the US Space and Rocket Center’s space camp. This camp educates students in science, technology, engineering and leadership to prepare them for a potential STEM career in the future.
International cooperation
Space also provides an opportunity for the US to collaborate with other countries.
For example, the US works jointly with Italy to observe the effects of air quality on human health. The James Webb Space Telescope, which is the result of partnerships between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, allows scientists to tackle previously unseen parts of the cosmos. International cooperation is also based on the Artemis Agreements, a set of principles agreed by 40 countries for peaceful, sustainable and transparent cooperation in space.
The best use of space
Currently, US space policymaking occurs at the federal and international level. And while people outside of government can act as witnesses during Congressional hearings or through advocacy groups, that participation may not be enough to reflect the broad spectrum of opinions and interests in space policy.
There are a number of ways policy makers can get input from different stakeholders. These may include inviting experts from different policy areas to provide recommendations in congressional hearings, collaborating with advocacy coalitions to create sustainable policies, strengthening and expanding private-public partnerships, and expanding the space program. a setting that emphasizes research and development.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a non-profit, independent news organization that brings you reliable facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. Written by: Cheyenne Black, University of Oklahoma
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Cheyenne Black does not work for, consult with, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and does not she disclosed any relevant connections beyond their academic appointment.
