Future of Space Community

National Space Strategy Toolkit 

Use Case Library

This is page is a use case library of the National Space Strategy Toolkit. Please refer to the Toolkit page for more information.

The European Space Agency (ESA) initiated two navigation missions, Genesis and low-Earth-orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO-PNT) as part of its FutureNAV programme. Genesis involves a consortium led by OHB Italia, tasked with the development and operation of the Genesis satellite and its payloads, supported by contributions from Italy, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Hungary and the UK. The satellite is expected to launch in 2028, with subsequent years dedicated to scientific exploitation. Genesis aims to significantly improve the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) and offer unprecedented precision for navigation and a myriad of Earth sciences applications.For the LEO-PNT mission, ESA has distributed USD 88M for each of the two contracts for the development of in-orbit demonstrators. These LEO-PNT satellites will explore new signals and frequency bands, designed to provide enhanced resilience, accuracy and speed in navigation. The projects are led by GMV Aerospace and Defence and Thales Alenia Space France and involve a broad consortium of more than 50 entities from 14 nations. The first LEO-PNT satellite is expected to launch within 20 months from the project’s commencement, with the complete constellation operational before 2027.Prerequisites:• Capability to process PNT data• Procurement pathway• Partner support as needed• Data policy• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planning• Identification of common needs with partners, identification of capabilities of different partners,• Spectrum policy & coordination with telecom regulator; ITU procedures where applicable• Lead agency & budgetCost: • Ballpark: USD 200M–1B (shared among partners)• Includes: feasibility studies and system architecture definition, design and manufacturing of LEO satellites and payloads, launch services and insurance, ground segment and control systems, development of augmentation algorithms, pilot service demonstrations, international standardization and certification engagement, training and workforce exchangesIn the use case illustrated, ESA initiated 2 programmes distributing USD 260M across 2 contracts. Timeframe: • Overall: 36–120 mo• Phase: feasibility & partnership agreements (12–24 mo), design & early prototyping (12–24 mo), satellite build, launch & demo services (24–36 mo), operational validation & certification (24–36 mo)Pros:• Cost Sharing - Reduce financial burden and spread risk through multinational collaboration. • Strategic Autonomy - Strengthen independence from third-nation systems by developing regional capabilities. • Industrial and Technological Development - Stimulate domestic industries through procurement and R&D contracts. • Improved Interoperability and Standards - Promote harmonized PNT services across borders for seamless integration. • Enhanced Diplomacy and Soft Power - Reinforce geopolitical ties and influence through cooperative GNSS initiatives.Considerations:• Governance Complexity - Navigate slow decision-making processes due to consensus-based governance.• Uneven Contributions and Benefits - Address potential imbalances where smaller contributors may feel marginalized or larger ones overburdened.• Industrial Competition and Fragmentation - Manage disputes over contract distribution to avoid inefficiencies or political friction.• Schedule and Budget Overruns - Anticipate delays and cost increases common in large, multinational programmes.
Europe
Partnerships to procure satellite navigation systems - ESA Member States
Several commercial providers now offer dedicated platforms for microgravity research outside of traditional government programmes. These include suborbital vehicles capable of carrying payloads for short-duration microgravity experiments, as well as privately operated modules and future orbital platforms that will host science and technology demonstrations. Such services allow researchers from emerging nations to access space-based experimentation without the need to develop their own launch systems or space stations.By engaging with these providers, nations can sponsor university experiments, test new materials and biomedical technologies, or conduct educational projects, while building local expertise in preparing and managing spaceflight payloads. These commercial opportunities can complement participation in government-led facilities (e.g., ISS, drop towers, parabolic flights) and provide a stepping-stone toward long-term national capabilities in space science and exploration. Non-exhaustive list is provided below.1. Suborbital Vehicles (rockets, commercial flights)• Blue Origin – New Shepard (US) – suborbital rocket providing several minutes of microgravity for science payloads.• UP Aerospace (US) – suborbital sounding rocket service for student and commercial payloads.• ISRO Sounding Rockets (India) – suborbital launches supporting atmospheric and microgravity research.• JAXA S-520 & SS-520 (Japan) – sounding rockets for student and research payloads.2. Parabolic Flights (aircraft-based microgravity)• Zero-G (US) – Boeing 727 “G-FORCE ONE” flights offering short-duration microgravity for research, training, and education.• Air Zero G / Novespace (France) – Airbus A310 platform providing parabolic research flights.• Glavkosmos / Roscosmos (Russia) – parabolic flight services using Russian aircraft for research and training.3. Drop Towers & Ground-Based Facilities• ZARM Drop Tower (Germany) – up to 9.3 seconds of weightlessness for physics and engineering research.• NASA Glenn Drop Tower (US) – 2.2-second drop tower for small experiments.4. Orbital & ISS-Based Platforms• ICE Cubes (Europe) – modular experiment cubes onboard the ISS for commercial and institutional users.• Nanoracks (US, open to international users) – ISS payload integration, CubeSat deployments, and in-orbit experiment hosting.• JAXA Kibo Module (Japan, via Kibo-ABC) – opportunities for Asia-Pacific nations to conduct experiments on the ISS.• CASIS (US) – ISS National Laboratory managing experiments for research and applications.5. Commercial Stations (future orbital research platforms)• Axiom Space (US) – developing commercial space station modules with microgravity research capacity.• Voyager Space (US) – leading Starlab, a planned commercial station for research and technology demonstration.• VAST Space (US) – planning commercial space stations designed for human-tended research and experiments.Other international initiatives – several consortia are planning orbital commercial research stations to succeed the ISS.6. Education & Training Programmes (multi-platform access)• ESA Education Office – Fly Your Thesis!, Drop Your Thesis!, Orbit Your Thesis! initiatives with partner institutions.• APRSAF Kibo-ABC (Asia-Pacific) – JAXA-led programme enabling student and researcher access to ISS Kibo module.• UNOOSA / China – partnership offering developing nations opportunities to fly payloads on China’s Tiangong space station.Prerequisites: • Access to technical expertise in microgravity experiment design• International partnerships with agencies or commercial providers • Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 10k–20k (clinostats / desktop simulators), USD 50k–200k (drop tower experiments, e.g., ZARM Bremen), USD 100k–500k (zero-g parabolic flights, e.g., Novespace, Zero-G Corp), USD 0.5M–2M (suborbital flights, e.g., Blue Origin New Shepard, Virgin Galactic research payloads), USD 1M–10M (ISS access via NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISS National Lab)• Includes: experiment design and preparation, integration and safety reviews, hardware procurement or adaptation, launch or facility access fees, data collection and analysis, researcher training and travelTimeframe:• Overall: 6–36 mo (depending on platform)• Phase: experiment design & review (3–6 mo), integration & preparation (3–12 mo), execution of experiment (days to weeks for drop tower/flight; months for ISS), data analysis & reporting (3–12 mo)Pros: • Innovation Enablement – Expands research opportunities through increased use of microgravity platforms, fostering scientific and technological innovation.• Cost Sharing – Reduces the financial burden of space research through collaboration with commercial initiatives and shared investment models.Considerations: • IP and Data Governance Complexity – Involves negotiating intellectual property rights, data access, and ownership agreements, which can be legally intricate and time-consuming across different platforms and partners.
Utilise platforms available for microgravity research (clinostats, zero-g flights, drop towers, suborbital, space stations)
Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) of Germany offers two key platforms for microgravity research. The ZARM Drop Tower provides up to 9.3 seconds of high-quality microgravity by dropping experiment capsules from a 146-meter shaft. In parallel, the GraviTower Bremen Pro, a next-generation system, enables high-frequency microgravity experiments of up to 2.5 seconds each and supports partial gravity environments (e.g., Moon, Mars). Together, these facilities support a wide range of scientific and industrial research applications.Prerequisites• Access to technical expertise in microgravity experiment design• International partnerships with agencies or commercial providers• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 10k–20k (clinostats / desktop simulators), USD 50k–200k (drop tower experiments, e.g., ZARM Bremen), USD 100k–500k (zero-g parabolic flights, USD 0.5M–2M (suborbital flights), USD 1M–10M (ISS access via space agency/ ISS National Lab)• Includes: experiment design and preparation, integration and safety reviews, hardware procurement or adaptation, launch or facility access fees, data collection and analysis, researcher training and travelTimeframe: • Overall: 6–36 mo (depending on platform)• Phase: experiment design & review (3–6 mo), integration & preparation (3–12 mo), execution of experiment (days to weeks for drop tower/flight; months for ISS), data analysis & reporting (3–12 mo)Pros: • Innovation Enablement – Expands research opportunities through increased use of microgravity platforms, fostering scientific and technological innovation.• Cost Sharing – Reduces the financial burden of space research through collaboration with commercial initiatives and shared investment models.Considerations: • IP and Data Governance Complexity – Involves negotiating intellectual property rights, data access, and ownership agreements, which can be legally intricate and time-consuming across different platforms and partners.
Germany
Utilise platforms available for microgravity research (clinostats, zero-g flights, drop towers, suborbital, space stations) - Germany
Two commercial providers (Boeing Australia and Exo Analytics) are collaborating to offer the Australian Government a fully operational Space Domain Awareness system, which is ready to deploy immediately and operated by a local Australian team. This system supports the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in monitoring critical space assets, providing command and control, and data analytics.Prerequisites: • Clear needs and internal use cases• Access to and capability to process SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications data• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 1–15M/yr (depending on volume, licensing, and type of data)• Includes: subscription or licensing of SSA/STM data (e.g., orbital positions, conjunction warnings, debris tracking), access to space weather services (solar activity, geomagnetic storm predictions), integration of data feeds into national systems, secure IT infrastructure for data reception, training for analysts and operators, and participation in data-sharing networksTimeframe: • Overall: 6–18 mo (to establish access and begin operations)• Phase: partner/provider selection & contracting (3–6 mo), IT and integration setup (3–6 mo), training and operationalisation (3–6 mo)Pros: • Improved Access to Information - Access to high quality tailored information and expertise rapidlyConsiderations: • Costly - Can become costly• Dependency - Reliant on external providers
Australia
Based on the capability assessment, use external data sources to monitor space environment - Australia
The European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) and the US Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) managed by the Office of Space Commerce, conducted a joint study in 2024 comparing their public space situational awareness (SSA) services. The study found strong alignment in core services such as in-orbit collision avoidance, risk assessment, and emergency event notifications. Key differences include TraCSS offering candidate maneuverer screening and anomaly reporting, while EU SST currently provides re-entry monitoring. Both systems aim to expand capabilities in areas like launch collision avoidance.Prerequisites: • Capabilities to conduct the assessment and analyse the results• Identify and build relationships with relevant ministries, local companies, and other stakeholders to gather comprehensive data on existing SSA, SST, and Space Weather data usage in the nationCost: • Ballpark: USD 10k–50k • Includes: literature review, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validationNote: A complete study would range from USD 50k-250k and include multiple activities such as determining the relevance of the domain, identification of existing data sources, developing use cases, and a capability maturity assessment) Timeframe: • Overall: 6–12 mo• Phase: scoping (1–2 mo), consultation (2–4 mo), drafting (2–4 mo), validation (1–2 mo)Pros: • Improved Decision Making - Enables informed decision-making by identifying areas that require investment and improvement • Strategic Planning - Facilitates strategic planning by setting clear goals and prioritiesConsiderations: • Resource-Intensive - Conducting such assessment can be resource-intensive requiring significant time and expertise
Europe
Carry out a capability maturity assessment
The US National Space Traffic Management Policy highlights how critical access to space is for the nation and the necessity to preserve it through STM. As space becomes increasingly congested and contested, the policy highlights the need for a modernized STM framework to ensure the safety, stability, and sustainability of space operations. The US recognize that without effective traffic management, the growing number of satellites and debris could threaten both current and future space activities.Prerequisites: • Institutional & political interest and support for utilising STM technologies and applications for services • Understand national policies and identify national policies that utilise STM technologies and applications• Identify and build relationships with relevant ministries, local companies, and other stakeholders to gather comprehensive data on existing STM technologies and applications usage in the nation• Inter-ministerial working group• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 10k–20k • Includes: literature review, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validationNote: A complete study would range from USD 50k-250k and include multiple activities such as determining the relevance of the domain, identification of existing data sources, developing use cases, and a capability maturity assessment) Timeframe: • Overall: 6–12 mo• Phase: scoping (1–2 mo), consultation (2–4 mo), drafting (2–4 mo), validation (1–2 mo)Pros: • Consistency - Ensures policy consistency and facilitates government support. • Resource Efficiency - Allows for efficient resource utilisation, maximizing the impact of investments. Considerations: • Articulation - May require collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, including government agencies, industry leaders, and academic institutions.
USA
Determine the extent to which this domain is relevant to your national priorities/needs - US
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) established an initiative "Debris Free Space Missions (DFSM) 2030".This initiative aims to achieve debris-free space missions by all Indian space actors, governmental and non-governmental by 2030. India also encourages all other state space actors to follow this initiative for the long-term sustainability of Outer Space.Prerequisites: • Institutional & political interest and support for utilising SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications• Understand national policies and identify national policies that utilise SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications• Identify and build relationships with stakeholders involved in policy implementation• Access to SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, data processing and analysis capabilities• Inter-ministerial working group• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 100k–500k• Includes: stakeholder mapping across government, military, academia, and industry; establishment of a national coordination office or committee; drafting of shared objectives and roadmaps (e.g., debris mitigation, responsible operations, space weather resilience); workshops and consultations; development of reporting mechanisms and national guidelines; participation in international best practice initiativesTimeframe: • Overall: 12–24 mo• Phase: scoping & stakeholder mapping (3–6 mo), establishment of coordination body (3–6 mo), drafting of national roadmap and guidelines (6–9 mo), validation and adoption (3–6 mo)Pros: • Simplification - Streamlines efforts of various space actors, both governmental and non-governmental. Safety - Aims to achieve safer, debris-free space missions. Strategy • Cohesion - Establishes a cohesive strategy for SSA/STM/Space Weather activities.Considerations: • Articulation - Aligning with multiple stakeholders can lead to complex coordination efforts as they have different priorities.
India
Establish a coordination programme for SSA/STM/Space Weather activities - India
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite to provide affordable, high-speed internet to remote and underserved communities across the Asia-Pacific region. This showcased how international funding can play a pivotal role in enabling space-based infrastructure that addresses critical development challenges such as digital inclusion and connectivity.
Asia Pacific
Pursue international funding opportunities for space activities - Asia Pacific
There is a partnership between the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Space Agency (ESA). NOAA's Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) mission and ESA's Vigil mission are designed to work in tandem to enhance space weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities.Prerequisites: • Institutional & political interest and support for utilising SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications• Partnerships with international space weather agencies and networks• Satellite manufacutring capabilities• Ground segment capabilities • Secure IT infrastructure for data collection, processing, and distribution• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planning• Clear regulatory framework for licensing, frequency coordination, export control where applicable• Coordination with international data-sharing standards and SSA/STM frameworksCost: • Ballpark: USD 500M–1B (depending on scale, orbit, and payload complexity) + USD 5M–20M/yr (operations)• Includes: partnership agreements and governance structure, spacecraft bus and payload design (solar imagers, coronagraphs, particle detectors, magnetometers), assembly/integration/testing (AIT) and environmental testing, launch and insurance, ground segment setup for data reception and processing, technology transfer and staff training, and development of data products for national stakeholders (aviation, energy, telecoms, defence)Timeframe: • Overall: 60–120 mo• Phase: partnership formation & requirements definition (12–18 mo), spacecraft and payload design (18–30 mo), AIV & testing (18–30 mo), launch & commissioning (6–12 mo), operations and data exploitation (ongoing)Pros: • Leveraging Existing Resources - Access to Space Weather upstream capabilities at a lower cost • Cooperation - Fosters international cooperationConsiderations: • Dependency - Reliant on external providers • Technology Transfer - Constraints can arise from the technology transfer set up
USA
Partner with nations to develop space-based assets including the transfer of technology and expertise - US and ESA Member States
There is currently no known example of this form of development being applied specifically to space debris tracking satellites; however, similar approaches have been successfully implemented in other domains, such as Earth Observation, and could serve as a useful reference.Prerequisites: • Institutional & political interest and support for utilising SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications• Partnerships with international space weather agencies and networks• Satellite manufacutring capabilities• Ground segment capabilities • Secure IT infrastructure for data collection, processing, and distribution• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planning• Clear regulatory framework for licensing, frequency coordination, export control where applicable• Coordination with international data-sharing standards and SSA/STM frameworksCost: • Ballpark: USD 10M–150M per satellite + USD 1M–5M/yr (operations)• Includes: partnership agreements and governance, joint design of spacecraft bus and optical payload, assembly/integration/testing (AIT) and environmental testing, launch and insurance, ground segment for mission ops and data processing, technology transfer and staff training, integration of data into national and international SSA cataloguesTimeframe: • Overall: 36–84 mo• Phase: partnership formation & requirements definition (6–12 mo), payload and spacecraft design (12–24 mo), AIV & testing (12–24 mo), launch & commissioning (6–12 mo), initial operations & validation (12–24 mo)Pros: • Timeline Efficiency - Eliminates the need to develop new technology or systems from scratch, enabling rapid technology integration.• Low-risk - as the technology is already demonstrated and usedConsiderations: • Risk of Ineffectiveness - Purchasing a satellite may not enable technology transfer or capacity building and some information will be kept as a black box
Partner with nations to develop space-based assets including the transfer of technology and expertise
In February 2024, the Saudi Space Agency and NorthStar Earth & Space entered a strategic partnership aimed at fostering a robust space ecosystem in the Middle East. This collaboration focuses on enhancing space situational awareness (SSA) and advancing space sustainability, while also laying the groundwork for long-term industry growth in Saudi Arabia. Central to the partnership is the potential establishment of a Centre of Excellence for SSA, alongside joint efforts in satellite manufacturing and the deployment of advanced sensing technologies—including optical, radar, and RF systems. NorthStar’s plans to establish a local presence and engage with Saudi universities and research institutions further underscore the initiative’s commitment to localizing innovation and nurturing a collaborative space ecosystem.Prerequisites:• Institutional & political interest and support for utilising SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications• Partnerships with established SSA, STM, and Space Weather data providers• Access to SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, data processing and analysis capabilitiesCost:• Ballpark: USD 100k–500k• Includes: mapping of international partners with advanced SSA/STM/space weather programmes, negotiation and signing of MoUs or cooperation agreements, funding of joint research projects and pilot programmes, exchange of researchers and technical staff, joint workshops and capacity-building activities, access to partner data and tools for national useTimeframe:• Overall: 12–36 mo• Phase: partner identification & scoping (3–6 mo), negotiation & agreement (6–9 mo), joint research & pilot projects (12–18 mo), evaluation & follow-up collaborations (6–12 mo)Pros:• Timeline Efficiency - Eliminates the need to develop new technology or systems from scratch, enabling rapid technology integration.• Low-risk - as the technology is already demonstrated and used• Leveraging Existing Resources - Leverages the strengths of partner nations to improve domestic capabilities in SSA/STM/Space Weather.• Fostering Collaboration - Fosters  collaborative research and development, leading to innovative solutions.Considerations:• Risk of Ineffectiveness - Purchasing a satellite may not enable technology transfer or capacity building and some information will be kept as a black box
Saudi Arabia
Partner with relevant stakeholders to grow capabilities in the domain - Saudi Arabia
The European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications programme offers year-round funding and support to companies using space technologies to develop new commercial services, supporting early-stage projects with grants and guidance, encouraging innovation and cross-sector engagement.
Establish foundational funding mechanisms for space initiatives - ESA Member States
The Central American Association for Aeronautics and Space (ACAE), in collaboration with the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), successfully crowdfunded the Irazú satellite project to enhance environmental monitoring in the region. This initiative demonstrated how public engagement and alternative financing models can empower academic institutions and emerging space actors to realize small-scale missions, serving as a compelling example of how dedicated crowdfunding platforms can help democratize access to space and stimulate grassroots innovation.
Costa Rica
Consider crowd funding initiatives to raise funding for space activities - Costa Rica
In 2024, the European Investment Bank (EIB), in partnership with the European Commission and the European Space Agency, launched a joint initiative to strengthen Europe’s space sector by improving access to finance for space companies. This includes tailored financial tools such as venture debt, equity investments, and advisory services. National space agencies or ministries can leverage this initiative by connecting domestic space startups with the EIB, helping them scale innovation, infrastructure, and commercialization.
Europe
Pursue international funding opportunities for space activities - Europe
Thailand’s Space Expo demonstrates how national events can elevate a nation’s space profile while fostering international collaboration. By showcasing domestic advancements, facilitating business opportunities, and inviting global stakeholders, the Expo strengthens Thailand’s space ecosystem and positions it as a regional hub for innovation and cooperation.
Thailand
Host collaborative events to connect local and international stakeholders - Thailand
The European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) exemplify how integrating space startups into broader innovation ecosystems can accelerate growth. Through technical support, seed funding, and access to a wide network of partners, ESA BICs help early-stage ventures develop commercially viable solutions and connect with cross-sector opportunities across Europe.
Europe
Integrate space startups into national innovation ecosystems - ESA Member States
France provides a 30% tax credit on eligible R&D expenses up to USD 100M through its Crédit d'Impôt Recherche (CIR, or Research Tax Credit - RTC) programme. This includes space technology development, satellite innovation, and collaborative research with public institutions. The CIR is widely used by aerospace and space tech companies operating in France.
France
Introduce tax incentives and subsidies to boost private sector participation - France
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Department of Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly promote STEM and space education across the nation. This collaboration includes regular meetings, tailored educational content, and outreach programmes to help educators and policymakers understand the long-term benefits of space investment.
USA
Engage other ministries through targeted awareness and education initiatives - US
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and pharmaceutical companies like Merck have collaborated to send drug formulation experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). Scientists from Merck, not traditionally part of the space sector, worked with astronauts and NASA engineers to study how protein crystallization behaves in microgravity. This helped improve drug design on Earth, especially for cancer treatments, and demonstrated the value of space-based R&D to the pharma industry.
USA
Involve cross-sector experts to foster collaboration and demonstrate space benefits - US
The Munich New Space Summit brings together leaders from both space and non-space industries, including automotive, telecommunications, and cybersecurity. For example, representatives from BMW Group participated in a panel on “Space - Non-Space - Secure Connectivity Solutions,” highlighting how space technologies intersect with terrestrial industries. This cross-sector dialogue helps identify partnership opportunities and promotes the integration of space capabilities into broader economic sectors.
Promote cross-sectoral engagement through participation in non-space events - Germany

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