This paper examines how differences in international space policy coordination precipitated the failure of the Earth Observation International Coordination Working Group to reach a multilateral consensus on how to implement the International Earth Observing System. NASA preferred development of binding legal measures for functional interoperability and data exchange policy and sought to formalize an International Earth Observing System memorandum of understanding and implementation plan. The European Space Agency, on the other hand, resisted these efforts. Instead, they wanted the Working Group to serve exclusively as an advisory group to its member space agencies entailing voluntary compliance with data policies. There also were problems associated with data policy coordination regarding differences between NASA and the European Space Agency on uses of data for scientific and operational/commercial purposes.
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