Articulating the space exploration policy–technology feedback cycle

Political and technical concerns are tightly intertwined in the design of modern space systems. The political environment often responds harshly to the associated high costs of these endeavors. Political sustainability is therefore at least as important as the technical performance parameters of new...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta astronautica 2008-09, Vol.63 (5), p.649-656
Main Authors: Broniatowski, David André, Weigel, Annalisa L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Architecture
Costs
Design engineering
Feedback loops
Political sustainability
Recursive
Space exploration
Space policy
Space system architecture
Space system design
Sustainability
Vices
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Summary:Political and technical concerns are tightly intertwined in the design of modern space systems. The political environment often responds harshly to the associated high costs of these endeavors. Political sustainability is therefore at least as important as the technical performance parameters of new space systems under development. This paper outlines a methodology by which a system architect may trace the recursive impacts of political choice on technical choice, and vice versa. Using the implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration as a case study, a Policy–Technology Feedback loop is outlined. This paper then demonstrates how political sustainability may be incorporated into the design process such that a politically savvy system architect may appropriately trade present costs against future costs.
ISSN:0094-5765
1879-2030
DOI:10.1016/j.actaastro.2008.04.006