Potential of the Market for Space Technologies, Goods and Services in the 21st Century: A View of Russian Business

Abstract

The paper presents a long-range forecast of the development of the world market for space technology, goods and services in the 21st century, and estimates the prospects of activities in this market by Russian scientific-industrial amalgamations NPOS) and industrial enterprises with different kinds of property. At the outset of the 21st century private business more and more actively presses for the meaningful participation of private business in the markets of space technology, goods and services. However, it cannot progress world-wide space activity unless the global space infrastructure continues to gain systematic support from the federal budgets of states.

The prospects for Russian business are analyzed. The paper proposes some new principles for the organization of transnational consortia and other commercial bodies, which will participate in the development of the world market of space technology, goods and services alongside federal agencies. Important related areas are sustainable development, using remote sensing information more widely, using space resources wisely (e.g., recycling materials from “dead” spacecraft, using resources on the Moon and Mars), global security and meteoroid/asteroid threats. Three specific examples of transnational projects are mentioned — a biosphere consortium, a material recycling plant, and an information/ education center.