Human Exploration and Development of Space 3: Commercial Development

Enable the Commercial Development of Space

Other Information:

NASA is working to formulate and advocate the policy, legislative, and engineering framework needed to facilitate privately funded commercial space activities. This includes both removing barriers and providing incentives. One strategy to achieve this is creation of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to facilitate commercial activities. Through the NGO, HEDS will offer a significant and increasing share of U.S. payload accommodations to commercial ventures so that ISS can function as a genuine commercial research and development (R&D) test bed. NASA has released a pricing policy, structure, and schedule for these commercial activities. Over time, the public share of costs of ISS endeavors will decrease until ISS becomes a commercially operated scientific laboratory and business venue. In the far term, NASA plans to transfer responsibility for all human space flight systems in Earth orbit to the private sector and purchase needed services commercially as NASA turns its focus to the higher-risk farther reaches of the space frontier. Throughout this process, NASA will work with industry to identify the commercial potential of future missions and to conduct cooperative projects to develop new capabilities and reduce Government costs. NEAR TERM PLANS: - Formulate and advocate policy, and legislative and engineering actions, to facilitate privately funded commercial space development - Identify jointly with industry the commercial potential of concepts for 100-day class missions and establish cooperative R&D to develop candidate technologies - Create new approaches to collaborative partnerships with the private sector for the development of future HEDS Enterprise capabilities

Objective(s):

1: Improved Accessibility of Space

2: Commercial Endeavors

3: New Capabilities through Partnerships

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