Commercial Opportunities in Space

The Symposium on Commercial Opportunities in Space: Roles of Developing Countries was held in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, April 19-24, 1987. The objectives of the Symposium were: a) to examine the practical benefits to be derived from technical and scientific achievements of space research and exploration and to determine the extent to which nonspace nations, especially the developing countries, may enjoy the benefits of participation in space activities, and b) to examine the opportunities available to non-space powers for international cooperation in space activities. This volume reports on the areas of: generic materials processing, effective commercialization of remote sensing, real-time satellite mapping, macromolecular crystallography, space processing of engineering materials, crystal growth techniques, molecular beam epitaxy development, and space automation robotics. These activities have proven successful in attracting new commercial coalitions by stimulating innovation in arrangements among commercial and noncommercial entities. The current facilities conduct research, development, analysis, and other necessary activities to understand and develop processes, products, services and other results having commercial space-related potential. The authors have identified other research and development areas that may benefit from the unique attributes of the space environment such as: fluid behavior and management, glasses and ceramics, combustion science, space power, space propulsion, space materials and structures, guidance and control, Earth and ocean observation, communication and data systems, automation and robotics, life sciences and human factors.