More Than 90 Senior-Level Representatives from 75 Companies Participated

The International Space Commerce Summit ... ISC2013 ... gathered the elite of the space industry with more than 90 senior level executives coming from 75 leading organizations. Executives with a long history in the industry, along with top experts and entrepreneurs, delivered 35 presentations that focused on the legalities, policies and financing of space based activities, satellites infrastructure, space technology, applications and human spaceflight infrastructure. The event took place last month.

ISC2013 started with the chairman of the summit, Rick Tumlinson, Chairman of Deep Space Industries pointing at the necessity for the private sector to get more involved in space exploration, as this will be the driving force moving the industry and space exploration ahead.

Chad Anderson from Space Angels Network spoke from the investors’ point of view and pointed out that the space industry should be financially viewed with the same mindset as every other industry. ‘Astropreneurs’ may have a personal liking for space but eventually the driving force for investments will be the expected ROI, and a good indicator of that will be a simple business model that works on problem-solution basis. Matt Perkins, CEO of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, delivered a presentation on space applications, which are predicted to be a dominant growth area of the Space market in coming years. Mr. Perkins pointed at the necessity of focusing on innovative applications to achieve growth, since they generate a virtuous circle by converting space-based data streams to information and knowledge of value.

The importance of developing space-based applications was supported in the speech by Alan Brunstrom, Head of Applications Business Office at the European Space Agency (ESA). Mr Brunstrom pointed out the significance of promoting programs driven by the market needs and defined ESA’s Integrated Application Promotion as a user-driven program for delivering space-based services to new user communities. Barry Matsumori, Senior Vice President of the Commercial Sales & Business Development department at SpaceX, was also present at the summit and delivered a presentation on the future of commercial space transportation. Sa’id Mosteshar, Director at the London Institute of Space Policy and Law presented on the laws and regulations of commercial participation in space and the future legal framework.

Tang Yan, Deputy Director General of the Earth Observation System and Data Center (EOSDC) at China National Space Administration (CNSA) offered an overview of China’s EOS Development and underlined that the Chinese government, which pays great attention to the development of space industry and its applications, has already formulated the policies and measures to achieve their goal. The ambition of the UK Government in the space business was addressed by Catherine Mealing-Jones, CPFA Director Growth, Applications and EU Programs at UK Space Agency, who stated that the UK Government works closely with other actors in the sector to capture the commercial opportunities.

On the second day of the Summit, Bas Lansdorp, the CEO and Founder of Mars One revealed concrete details about the test mission to Mars, which has plans to establish human settlement on Martian soil in 2023. The first step will be to test whether conditions for sustaining humans can be created; this will be achieved by sending experimental systems on a lander. Mars One received 102,000 applications, many of which are from ordinary people; the oldest applicant is 83 and the youngest is still in primary school. In 2015, the crew training will start. The following year, the first unmanned demonstration mission will land, and in 2018, the Rover Mission will be undertaken to determine the exact site of human colony. In 2020, a Cargo mission will be sent with supplies and to activate life support systems to create water and a breathable atmosphere, which will enable the first colonists to touch Martian soil in 2023 and become part of the first space colonization ever.

The term “Commercial Space” for the purpose of the National Space Policy of the United States of the America was defined by Daniel Rasky, Director & Co-founder of the Space Portal at NASA, Ames Research Center, who pictured the commercial space companies as the driving force for the growth of the sector, and the Commercial Leverage Model (CLM) as a very cost effective way for engaging the emerging commercial space industry in Public/Private Partnerships and developing important new space capabilities. Andrew Nelson, COO at XCOR Aerospace, provided a detailed overview on the next vehicle engine after Lynx. According to Mr Nelson, Lynx will fly early in 2015, with an engine that is meant to enable low cost, safe and responsive access to space.

FMI: www.spacecommercesummit.com