Title

The Art Of The Possible: Economic Prospects For Space, Fantasy And Practicality

Abstract

The economic prospects from space activities grow ever more visible each day as Earth-orbiting satellites expand their capabilities in communications, Earth-observing and global positioning technologies. Such technologies, however, can be accomplished using existing launch vehicles and satellites, modest advances in the state of the art will open up even larger economic possibilities. The result is that the reasons for manned space flight wither on the altear of practicality and are treated as an indulgence of those dependent upon government largesse but of no interest to more realistic decision makers, whether private or public. This paper sketches out an economically grounded sequence of events which takes advantage of the vast sums being expended on the International Space Station and provides justification for the next generation of manned space vehicles. Loss of human access to space will not end space-based activities but move them in another direction for some unknown time period. Recovering momentum for manned space flight would be a difficult process so that the key lies in not losing one's way. An alternative pathway is proposed. Tying the dream to practicality, however, limits the flights of fancy that are possible but one begins with the value that space is worth exploring for mankind.

Publication Date

12-1-1996

Publication Title

JBIS - Journal of the British Interplanetary Society

Volume

49

Issue

10

Number of Pages

381-386

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

70449999989 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/70449999989

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