ISS:: From political to scientific and economic preeminence

The ESA Ministerial Conference of May 1999 made a great step forward in guaranteeing the European elements of ISS exploitation and utilization. Emphasis in this area has been put on public-private-partnerships and on industrializing the ISS exploitation. A strongly emerging industrial interest in ISS utilization is evident which not only reflects activities to promote the involvement of non-space industry in Germany, and by ESA, but also generally within the countries of the global ISS partnership. The characteristics of industrialized space utilization in the future are reduced government involvement, and the acceptance of responsibility and risk by the private sector. The successful opening of a "space marketplace" depends on certain key elements - the identification and implementation of a well-defined set of utilization prerequisites, and the systematic development of new ISS business and research areas. The ISU Symposium can help to foster the "Next Space Marketplace"; the results of the Symposium need to be forwarded effectively and must be introduced into the global space dialogue.