Satnews Daily
September 15th, 2019

Air Force Space Command's Space Settlement Study Applauded by the National Space Soceity


The National Space Society (NSS) commends U.S. Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) for their September 5th report on its Space Futures Workshop entitled “The Future of Space 2060 and Implications for U.S. Strategy.”

AFSPC’s report recommended that a U.S.-led coalition establish a preferred future where space is a major contributor to a human economy, where "people live and work widely in space" and where “space settlement [is a] primary driver of the nation’s civil space program.”

In this recommendation, AFSPC’s report reflects the vision of the National Space Society. The report recommends that civil space programs be assessed by their ability to further “large-scale human space settlement” with deep private sector involvement. Included in the report is a call for the U.S.-led coalition to shape a “rules-based, democratic international order” in space where “norms of behavior, rules, and laws” are based on “fairness, open commerce, freedom of movement, and international cooperation.” 

NSS EVP Alfred Anzaldua stated that the exciting possible future presented in this report represents an aspirational goal for the nation — one that has been long promoted by NSS. The organization applauds the bold thinkers here who are raising public awareness about space’s potential benefits. The NSS Policy Committee has recently published a paper on the wide range of benefits already derived from space, as well as the ones coming in the near and further future.

Read the NSS paper at this direct link...

The full AFSPC report can be found at this direct link...