Building the Next Space Age

This article focuses on need of technical and industrial innovation in the U.S. Space Program. There is a need of a long-range national policy with clearly defined approaches to managing the evolution of the civil space sector and facilitating the growth of commercial space. It has been debated in the paper that in contrast to the ‘flags and footprints’ model, framing space strategy in terms of capabilities would bring benefits to earth and prepare to move outward to the rest of the solar system by first developing own back yard – the Earth–Moon System. Backed by billionaire investors, Planetary Resources, Inc. is developing space-based systems to identify and intercept mineral-rich asteroids. NASA is already working to identify potential targets, using the infrared cameras aboard the NEOWISE satellite to discover small bodies that come close enough to Earth to capture. Significantly, a capabilities-driven strategy would be the best way to get the commercial sector on board as indispensable partners. Private interests will have greater incentives to invest, and their partnership will eventually propel the movement beyond cislunar space.