NASA has released a new report highlighting the agency’s 17 key mechanisms that have supported the development and growth of the US commercial space sector. The report, titled “Enabling America on the Space Frontier,” aims to provide a comprehensive historical analysis of how NASA has contributed to commercial space development over the decades.
According to the report, these mechanisms have enabled NASA to work with companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Intuitive Machines, resulting in advancements such as modernized communications infrastructure and the development of private lunar landers. The agency’s support for commercial space growth has accelerated, and this report will help agency leaders and stakeholders assess how these mechanisms can be used in the future.
The 17 mechanisms include contracts, research and technology development, dissemination of scientific data, education and workforce development, and more. These mechanisms have been used throughout NASA’s history, with some being relatively recent additions. The report highlights the agency’s contributions to commercial space development across four distinct periods: Apollo era, Space Shuttle era, post-shuttle commercial era, and current initiatives.
The report also notes that small satellite capabilities have inspired a new generation of space start-ups, while new rocket technologies and programs are emerging. Examples include Commercial Lunar Payload Services, commercial low Earth orbit destinations, human landing systems, and commercial development of NASA spacesuits. The agency’s use of commercial capabilities has become the norm for many missions, with a level of technical development comparable to the Apollo era’s Space Race.
The report aims to provide insight into how NASA will continue to support commercial space activities in the future, by deploying these 17 mechanisms.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/organizations/otps/new-report-analyzes-long-history-of-nasa-support-for-commercial-space