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2 Opening Remarks The opening session of the workshop1 was moderated by Space Studies Board chair Charles Kennel. In his opening remarks Kennel referred to the ongoing globalization in todayâs world, and specifically mentioned the current global financial crisis and its implications for space. The international order is likely to be restructured, with major shifts in international relationships that will impact space. âThe 21st century starts in 2008,â Kennel observed. There will therefore be a need for the space community to respond by working to develop a global approach to space. He noted that the National Aeronautics and Space Act2 assigned NASA an important role in international relations, and that the agency has exercised extraordinary discretion in forging partnerships with other agencies around the world. The space program has seen the development of a broad spectrum of international relationships from purely financial to those based on engineering interdependence (e.g., the International Space Station). Calling on workshop participants to speak up and share experiences and to develop new ideas on how to respond to a restructured international order and how to integrate future space activities into a truly global enterprise, Kennel posed three questions: ⢠How does one start a dialog that is not naive on a long-range future, without compromising the present? ⢠What should we do to enable a more inclusive global space enterprise (e.g., How do we build an international space community that integrates new and emerging space powers like China and India)? ⢠What should we avoid doing so as to create a stronger global space enterprise? Kennel then introduced two keynote presentations that set the stage for subsequent discussions by the workshop participants. In his opening keynote, Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher (former administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) provided an overview on the challenges of scientific and technological cooperation and competition in a globalizing world.1 He also reviewed past and current efforts to monitor the environment and climate, noting that there are enormous opportunities for collaboration on the horizon todayâ¯nationally and internationallyâ¯as well as between government and the private sector. Lautenbacher noted that Earth observations organizations throughout the world must demonstrate that they can work together at the science and technology level as well as at the governing political level, because no single nation by itself can understand the global environment. He also noted the following challenges facing the Earth observations community: ⢠Earth observations must be relevant to economic and social needs, ⢠The organizations active in Earth observations must work together to create a unified and much larger voice, 1 See the workshop agenda in Appendix B. 2 The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended. See http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ogc/about/space_act1.html. 7
⢠Coherent and realistic planning from research to operations is needed, and ⢠Successful Earth-observation activities require high-level involvement and support (e.g., ministerial-level). Lautenbacher concluded his remarks by observing that rising costs, economic priorities, technological and scientific needs, and expanding benefits combine to make collaboration both necessary and appealing. Vincent Sabathier (Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS) also contributed to the opening session by discussing the efforts of CSIS to address the policy aspects of space activities at the global level. Space activities are increasingly globalized, he noted, adding that the rapid expansion of space activities in Asia, including competition relating to the Moon, is particularly striking. Looking ahead, Sabathier made reference to the growing role of the private sector and stressed the need to pursue sustainable space programs. The establishment of the Group on Earth Observations in 2003 and the subsequent efforts to create a Global Earth Observing System of Systems are important steps in this regard, he added. The second keynote presentation, delivered by Roger Launius (National Air and Space Museum) reviewed the history of and lessons learned from governmental space cooperation and competition during and after the Cold War.3 During the Cold War, the United States pursued cooperation to advance its national interest, enhance the image of the United States, develop closer relations with other countries, and reinforce the perception of U.S. openness. In carrying out these objectives, NASA structured cooperation on a project-by-project basis and sought to ensure that the projects pursued were scientifically valid, mutually beneficial, and that they involved no exchange of funds.4 NASA has concluded more than 2,000 agreements with other nations for various international space ventures during the past 50 yearsâalmost always as the senior partner. In the post-Cold War era, however, NASAâs role in collaborative projects has gradually changed. U.S. pre-eminence in space has begun to decline as U.S. commitment to maintain pre-eminence has waned and as other countries have developed sophisticated space capabilities. The U.S. commitment to large-scale international ventures has also diminished, in part as a result of International Traffic in Arms Regulations constraints and in part because of U.S. preferences to go it alone. As a result, the United States today is not automatically viewed as the partner of choice. In his remarks Launius observed that the International Space Station program, begun by NASA in 1984, will be remembered not so much for its science and technological achievements (though these may be significant) but because it brought together engineers, scientists, managers, and technicians from various backgrounds and cultures who successfully worked together to achieve common goals. There may be opportunities to pursue similar initiatives in the future, he added.5 3 Available in Appendix F of this report and at http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ssb/InternationalCooperationWorkshop2008.html. 4 The âno exchange of fundsâ policy is not inviolate, however; for example, NASA has made considerable payments to the Russians in the course of the International Space Station cooperation. 5 Workshop participants also heard a dinner presentation by Roald Sagdeev (University of Maryland) titled âReal World Implications for International Cooperation,â in which he provided personal reflections on the history of Soviet-U.S. space cooperation. 8
