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Published September 15, 2017 | Submitted
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The Economics of Space Station

Abstract

In this paper I will examine some of the economic and management issues which must be addressed if Space Station is to effectively and efficiently pursue the myriad goals that have been chosen for it. I will characterize and evaluate in a somewhat stylized fashion three possible policies: an "engineering" approach, an "economics" approach, and a systematic custom design approach. I will use Space Station as an example to highlight some of the major economic issues facing large scale multipurpose research and development efforts, the analytical capabilities we now have to address these issues, and the (non-engineering) research that needs to be done to advance the successful long-term development of space.

Additional Information

This paper was invited and written for the Symposium on Explorations in Space Policy: Emerging Economic and Technical Issues, sponsored by the National Academy of Engineering and Resources for the Future on June 24-25, 1986. Much of the research for this paper, the details of which can be found in the referenced JPL working papers, was funded by NASA through JPL. They bear absolutely no responsibility for any of my conclusions. This paper was significantly improved with the help of comments from Jeffrey Banks, Peter Gray, Hamid Habib-Agahi, Molly Macauley and especially David Porter. They also bear no responsibility for its contents.

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August 19, 2023
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