Journal of Aeronautics & Aerospace Engineering
Open Access

Space exploration: A matter for governments or for private operators

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Satellite & Space Missions

May 11-13, 2017 Barcelona, Spain

Giancarlo Genta

Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Aeronaut Aerospace Eng

Abstract :

Initially space exploration was based on a direct involvement of governments. The main reasons were the general cold war climate, the programmatic non-existence of a private sector in one of the main actors (the Soviet Union) and perhaps also the novelty of this enterprise, allows forecasting its cost beyond the possibilities of any private organization. Consequently, the main international treaties dealing with this subject were heavily influenced by the belief that states were the actors in space and that exploration could be peaceful only if everything of value existing beyond earth was considered as belonging to humankind in general, and could be exploited, if at all, in the interest of all. Space activity allowed the development of a space industry. The governmental agencies (and the military) were the customers of these companies, and managed the missions directly. Slowly, a new model started emerging with space agencies not dealing with all kinds of space activities, leaving all the industrial ones, in particular telecommunication, meteorological and earth resources satellites, to private companies, concentrating on their main business, namely science and exploration. Later, starting with 2000, the idea that also in science and exploration missions��? space agencies should buy many services from private companies emerged, with transportation to LEO operated by privates. The launchers for scientific and exploration missions should not only be built, but also studied, designed and operated by privates. Exploration missions could be completely run by private enterprises that decide their goals, recruit the crew (if any), build the equipment, operate the mission and finally own the outcome, of whichever nature it is. Private exploration is possible only if the outcome of the mission is lucrative enough to justify the investments and the risks, like it was the case of the sea exploration journeys of the sixteenth century.

Biography :

Giancarlo Genta is a Professor of Construction Machines at Polytechnic University of Turin. He is a member of Academy of Sciences of Torino and International Academy of Astronautics. In 2013, he received the Yangel Medal for outstanding contributions to the development of the international space sciences and technologies and the Engineering Science Award of the International Academy of Astronautics for outstanding achievement in Engineering Science. He authored 90 papers, published in Italian, American and English journals, 268 papers presented to symposia and 25 books. He is also the Author of two science fiction novels, published in Italian, English and Ukrainian.

Email: giancarlo.genta@polito.it