A method for estimating the benefits of a space program

Abstract

Investments are made only if the investors can expect an attractive return within a reasonable time period. Investments in space by privat investors are made only in such space systems which are certain to find a market. Communication satellites are a very good example. On the other hand, space research remains a domain of the governments of space faring nations. Space projects, that have long range aspects are very difficult to finance, because even politicians would like to see a reasonable benefit during their term in office, because they want to be able to explain this investment to the taxpayer. Consequently, space advocates must demonstrate convicingly the benefits to be expected of new programs. This forces planners to develop benefit models simple and transparent enough to convince skeptical decision-makers to support new public investments in space. This report attempts to describe a procedure that allows to estimate the benefits to be expected from a new space venture. The examples used are extraterrestrial bases on the Moon and on Mars, both projects under discussion and candidates for space investments early in the 21st century. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(328) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman