When people think about what we get out of the U.S. space program, it might be along the lines of NASA technology spinoffs, like freeze-dried food and emergency space blankets.
But space activities do much more that benefits life on Earth. Research in space helps scientists study our environment, develop new technologies, create jobs, grow the economy and promote international cooperation.
Naturally, with reports that Russia would develop an anti-satellite nuclear weapon, members of Congress and the media have turned their attention to space defense and military preparedness.
This is critical, but there are many more benefits to be gained from space. Getting the most out of U.S. space involvement requires collaboration across diverse social, environmental, commercial, governmental, international, and technological backgrounds.
As a space policy scholar who focuses on private-public partnerships, networks, and coalitions, I have seen that policymakers can get the most out of America's space efforts if they invite a wide range of experts to policy discussions.
Benefits on Earth
NASA satellites play a critical role in documenting changes in global temperatures, sea level rise, Arctic ice extent and air quality. Satellites have also been collecting data to monitor water use, crop health and crop production for almost fifty years. These long-term observations help researchers monitor environmental changes around the world.
Space research produces a wide range of technologies in addition to rockets and lunar landers. Cell phone cameras, CAT scanners, the computer mouse, laptops, wireless headsets, and water purification systems are just a few of the public goods NASA has generated.
These spin-off technologies emerge from NASA's partnerships with private companies, which then make scientific discoveries widely available and accessible.
Growing the space economy
Experts predict that the space sector will continue to drive the development of non-space industries. Agriculture, energy, mining, transportation and pharmaceuticals are just some of the sectors benefiting from spin-off technologies and space exploration.
For example, scientists can conduct experiments on the International Space Station using the microgravity of space to study drug chemistry, improve drugs, and test cancer treatments.
More organizations and individuals than ever share a vested interest in the success of the space sector. Experts anticipate the global space economy - the resources used in space for activities - and research and development will continue to grow to a $1.4 trillion market by 2030.
The commercialization policy opened U.S. space activities to the private sector. This has led to partnerships with companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and others, which are growing the space economy.
These companies have increasingly launched rockets and deployed satellites in recent years. This has increased the need for workers, both in production positions and in specialized STEM positions. In addition, private companies and universities are working together to develop various technologies, such as landing systems for an American return to the moon.
Communities that host space industry centers have seen economic and educational benefits. For example, Huntsville, Alabama, home to the Marshall Space Flight Center and the US Space and Rocket Center, has attracted a well-educated workforce with one of the highest numbers of engineers per capita. Nearly half of residents over the age of 25 in Huntsville have a bachelor's degree or higher.
This percentage is in stark contrast to the national average, where 37% have at least a bachelor's degree, and the state average of 27%. Additionally, Huntsville's annual median household income is $8,000 higher than the Alabama average.
Since 1982, Huntsville has also hosted more than 750,000 students at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. This camp educates students about science, technology, engineering and leadership to prepare them for potential future STEM careers.
International cooperation
Space also offers the US the opportunity to collaborate with other countries.
For example, the US is working with Italy to observe the effects of air quality on human health. The James Webb Space Telescope, a result of partnerships between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, allows scientists to look at previously unobserved parts of the cosmos. International cooperation also led to the Artemis Accords, a set of principles agreed upon by forty countries for peaceful, sustainable and transparent cooperation in space.
Get the most out of the space
Currently, U.S. space policymaking takes place at the federal and international levels. And while people outside the government may serve as witnesses at congressional hearings or through advocacy groups, that involvement may not be sufficient to represent the broad spectrum of views and interests in space policy.
There are a number of ways policymakers can get input from different stakeholders. This could include inviting more experts from different policy areas to make recommendations at Congressional hearings, working with advocacy coalitions to create sustainable policies, strengthening and expanding private-public partnerships, and crafting a space agenda that emphasizes research and development.
This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit organization providing facts and trusted analysis to help you understand our complex world. It was written by: Cheyenne Black, University of Oklahoma Read more: Cheyenne Black does not work for, consult with, own shares in, or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
