Promotion of Industrial Development and Utilisation of Microgravity in Space: TheRadius Report

摘要

In the Fall of 1990, the space commercialization office of ESA convened a taskforce of experts to examine the barriers which keep European industry from participating more actively in microgravity research efforts and to suggest ways to overcome these barriers. The experts were asked, in particular, to make suggestions for a business oriented strategy adapted to the particular requirements of the industrialists, and to make recommendations on ways to create the necessary synergies between industry and the research groups involved in microgravity research. The task force included representatives from space industry and space commercialization companies, in space user industry, and universities and research centers. The present report, based on the contributions of the members and the minutes of the meetings, summarizes the conclusions of the task force. The present participation of industry in microgravity research is described and a marketing approach to microgravity, designed to remove the different barriers that keep industry from being more active in this field is proposed. Specific problems of the microgravity research teams in universities and public research centers are addressed and it is shown that the present organization of microgravity research does not guarantee the best possible scientific results. The programs that have been set up by the U.S. and Japan to promote the participation of their industries in space programs are described. One possible way of encouraging the development of high level industrial microgravity research, through the creation of Research Associations for the Development of Industrial Utilisation of Space (RADIUS) is described.