Space 2030: Exploring the Future of Space Applications

by OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Since the launching of Sputnik in 1957, media coverage of space has focused almost exclusively on spectacular missions such as the 1969 Apollo moon landing and the current Spirit exploration of Mars. But far less publicized advances in space technologies have led to the development of sophisticated military and civil space assets—that provide a growing number of services, ranging from communication, remote sensing, and earth observation to navigation and locationbased programs. While military space assets have gained strategic prominence in the arsenals of space-faring nations, the services provided by civil space assets have a growing impact on our daily lives. What does the future hold for the space sector? What applications are most likely to become successful? Using a scenario-based approach, Space 2030 explores the evolution of major components of the space sector (military space, civil space, and commercial space) over the next thirty years. The report takes into account four major factors of geopolitical developments, socioeconomic developments, energy and the environment, and technology. It assesses the prospects of a number of applications, based on anticipated advancement in microelectronics, nanotechnology, and robotics, as well as space-related technologies.

242 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2004

About the author

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 35 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. It is a forum of countries describing themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a platform to compare policy experiences, seeking answers to common problems, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies of its members.

In 1948, the OECD originated as the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), led by Robert Marjolin of France, to help administer the Marshall Plan (which was rejected by the Soviet Union and its satellite states). This would be achieved by allocating American financial aid and implementing economic programs for the reconstruction of Europe after World War II. (Similar reconstruction aid was sent to the war-torn Republic of China and post-war Korea, but not under the name "Marshall Plan".)

In 1961, the OEEC was reformed into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development by the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and membership was extended to non-European states. Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index (HDI) and are regarded as developed countries.

The OECD's headquarters are at the Château de la Muette in Paris, France. The OECD is funded by contributions from member states at varying rates.