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.

In 2018, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) signed an agreement with the Russian space agency Roscosmos to send the first Emirati astronaut into space. This institutional partnership represented a major milestone in the UAE’s efforts to develop national human spaceflight capabilities, supported within the broader framework of the UAE Space Agency’s national space strategy.Prerequisite:• Institutional & political interest and support for human spaceflight • Partnerships with established agencies • Existence of technological capabilities and infrastructure in national ecosystem (space agency, industry or academia) to conduct R&D for space exploration technologies.• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 1M–100M (depending on scope: training, experiment integration, astronaut seat access)• Includes: partnership agreements and diplomatic engagement, astronaut training and exchanges, experiment development for ISS or other platforms, integration and safety certification, development of ground support and mission operations capacity, national awareness and outreach activitiesTimeframe: • Overall: 24–96 mo• Phase: scoping & partnership agreements (6–12 mo), astronaut/crew training or experiment preparation (12–36 mo), mission participation (6–12 mo), data analysis & follow-up outreach (12–24 mo)Pros:• Accelerates Capability Development - Access to proven expertise and training systems helps build national skills more effectively.• Reduces Cost and Technical Burden - Shared infrastructure and training ease financial and technical demands.• Enhances International Visibility - Participation in human spaceflight raises global recognition.Considerations:• Limits National Autonomy - Dependence on partners can restrict planning freedom and slow independent development.• Requires Complex Agreements - Building formal partnerships often involves legal, diplomatic, and administrative hurdles.
United Arab Emirates
Foster institutional partnerships for human spaceflight exploration capabilities - UAE
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a Statement of Intent on human space exploration with the European Space Agency (ESA) in May 2025. This agreement primarily focuses on cooperation in low Earth orbit (LEO), with future plans to expand into lunar exploration. Under this agreement, ISRO and ESA will begin working on the interoperability of rendezvous and docking systems to enable collaboration between their respective spacecraft in LEO. In addition, the two agencies plan to cooperate on astronaut training, analogue missions conducted in ground-based simulation environments, and parabolic flight activities.Prerequisites:• Institutional & political interest and support for human spaceflight • Partnerships with established agencies • Existence of technological capabilities and infrastructure in national ecosystem (space agency, industry or academia) to conduct R&D for space exploration technologies.• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 1M–100M (depending on scope: training, experiment integration, astronaut seat access)• Includes: partnership agreements and diplomatic engagement, astronaut training and exchanges, experiment development for ISS or other platforms, integration and safety certification, development of ground support and mission operations capacity, national awareness and outreach activitiesTimeframe: • Overall: 24–96 mo• Phase: scoping & partnership agreements (6–12 mo), astronaut/crew training or experiment preparation (12–36 mo), mission participation (6–12 mo), data analysis & follow-up outreach (12–24 mo)Pros:• Accelerates Capability Development - Access to proven expertise and training systems helps build national skills more effectively.• Reduces Cost and Technical Burden - Shared infrastructure and training eases financial and technical demands.• Enhances International Visibility - Participation in human spaceflight raises global recognition.Considerations:• Limits National Autonomy - Dependence on partners can restrict planning freedom and slow independent development.• Requires Complex Agreements - Building formal partnerships often involves legal, diplomatic, and administrative hurdles.
India
Foster institutional partnerships for human spaceflight exploration capabilities - India and ESA Member States
The UAE’s Mars Hope Probe (Al-Amal), launched in 2020, was not funded only as a space mission. The UAE unlocked complementary funding streams from education, science/innovation, and international cooperation budgets. • Education & Youth portfolios: Hope was tied to inspiring STEM students, with scholarships and university partnerships.• Science & Innovation ministries: Framed as a driver for national R&D and technological independence.• Foreign Affairs / International Cooperation: Partnerships with universities outside of UAE (University of Colorado, Berkeley, Arizona State University) were highlighted as part of the UAE’s diplomatic and scientific cooperation agenda.• Economic diversification strategies: Hope was linked to the UAE’s long-term plan to transition from oil to knowledge-based industries.Prerequisites:• Identify and build relationships with ministries likely to be using or require space exploration technology and applications• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–250k  • Includes: inter-ministerial consultations and workshops, mapping of existing funding mechanisms and grant programs, financial/legal review of eligibility and access, documentation and reporting, dissemination of opportunitiesTimeframe: • Overall: 6–18 mo• Phase: scoping & stakeholder mapping (2–4 mo), review of funding instruments & eligibility (3–6 mo), inter-ministerial alignment & reporting (3–6 mo), integration into national space programme planning (3–6 mo)Pros:• Expands Access to Missions - Collaboration enables participation in human and robotic missions that may be unachievable alone due to advanced technology needs or launch capacity limits.• Shares Burden Across Partners - Complementary cooperation reduces financial, technical, and human resource burdens.• Boosts International Standing - Visible contributions to global missions enhance the nation’s reputation in the space community.Considerations:• Requires Strategic Alignment - Objectives, timelines, and priorities may differ across nations, making coordination and partner selection challenging.
United Arab Emirates
Identify complementary funding initiatives in your government - UAE
Rather than launching a standalone mission, Germany's DLR and France's CNES collaborated with Japan's JAXA on the asteroid explorer Hayabusa2 by providing the scientific lander MASCOT. This shoebox-sized Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout was jointly developed by DLR and CNES and was carried as a payload on Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft. In October 2018, MASCOT was deployed onto asteroid Ryugu, equipped with four instruments (including a French spectrometer) to study the surface. This collaboration allowed Germany and France to make scientific and technological contributions to a major exploration mission in a cost-effective manner by supplying a payload.Prerequisites:• Institutional & political interest and support for human spaceflight • Partnerships with space agency or commercial provider with access to space exploration mission• Existence of technological capabilities and infrastructure in national ecosystem (space agency, industry or academia) to develop payload• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: Small payloads such as CubeSats, ISS experiments, hosted sensors• Ballpark: USD 0.5M–5M• Includes: payload/experiment design and development, safety and integration reviews, procurement of launch opportunity via partner mission, data downlink and storage, researcher training and exchanges, data analysis and publicationLarger payloads such as lander/rover instruments, advanced experiments• Ballpark: USD 5M–50M• Includes: co-development of instruments with partner agencies or primes, environmental testing and qualification, integration with host spacecraft, launch and operations participation, scientific exploitation and outreachTimeframe: Small payloads• Overall 24–48 mo• Phase: partnership agreement & payload definition (6–12 mo), design & development (12–18 mo), integration & launch (6–12 mo), operations & data analysis (6–12 mo)Larger payloads• Overall 48–96 mo• Phase: partnership & scoping (12–18 mo), design & development (18–36 mo), integration & launch (12–24 mo), operations & data exploitation (12–24 mo)Pros:• Affordable - Collaboration provides a low-cost entry point into space exploration.• Reputation Increase - Collaboration builds international credibility and technical trust.Considerations:• Technical Complexity - Payloads must comply with stringent technical specifications to be accepted for integration into a foreign spacecraft• Articulation - International collaboration requires intensive diplomatic and technical coordination.• Timeline - Collaborations are susceptible to schedule delays of the host mission.
France, Germany
Identify opportunities to contribute to exploration mission payload - France and Germany
France enforces its 2008 Space Operations Act through Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), which issues technical regulations requiring operators to submit documentation on debris mitigation, collision avoidance, and post-mission disposal. Operators must comply with international norms (e.g. IADC guidelines) and carry third-party liability insurance. CNES oversees enforcement and conducts compliance audits.
France
Enact a comprehensive national space law to establish a strong legal foundation - France
The Philippines established their national space agencies through a dedicated legal act — Republic Act No. 11363 (2019), respectively—ensuring full compliance with their national legal frameworks.Additional Sources: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/nationalspacelaw/index.html
Philippines
Establish a space agency through robust legal and institutional mechanisms - Philippines
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
The Office of Space Commerce (OSC), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US Department of Commerce, is the primary federal office responsible for promoting the commercial space industry. It acts as a central point of contact for private companies, offering regulatory support, coordinating interagency efforts, and advocating for industry-friendly policies.
USA
Appoint a dedicated Point of Contact to support coordination and innovation - US
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has established the Space Enterprise Department to enhance private sector participation in Nigeria’s space industry. This department actively engages with private companies, integrating them into the national space ecosystem and identifying strategic partners for collaboration. Although the department does not have a regulatory or policy-making mandate, it works closely with relevant regulatory bodies to ensure alignment with national space policies that foster enterprise growth and innovation.
Nigeria
Establish a regulatory and commercial framework for private sector participation - Nigeria
In the United States, a wide range of venture capital firms and accelerators support early-stage space startups. Dedicated investors include Space Capital, Space Angels, SpaceFund, and Seraphim Space, while major technology VCs such as Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Bessemer, and Khosla Ventures have backed companies across launch, satellites, and data services. This ecosystem is reinforced by accelerators like Techstars Space and Starburst, and by public programmes such as NASA SBIR/STTR, AFWERX, and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), which de-risk investments through contracts and grants. Together, these mechanisms illustrate how public-private collaboration drives space sector growth, blending private VC capital with government-backed support.
USA
Support the creation of a public-backed venture capital fund for space startups - US
The Indian government, through the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), approved a ₹1,000 crore (approx. USD 120M) venture capital fund to support space-sector startups. This initiative aims to boost early-stage investment, foster innovation, and align private sector growth with national space and economic priorities, while reducing financial barriers for emerging companies.
India
Support the creation of a public-backed venture capital fund for space startups - India
The AlSat-Nano mission, a collaboration between the UK Space Agency, the Surrey Space Centre, and the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL), was designed to train Algerian students and engineers in satellite design, integration, and operations. By leveraging British expertise, the project provided hands-on experience and knowledge transfer, helping Algeria build local capacity in small satellite technology.
Algeria, United Kingdom
Support technology transfer initiatives to build local capabilities - Algeria and UK
India’s Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop a small satellite, with the goal of building local expertise in satellite technology. This collaboration includes knowledge transfer, technical training, and hands-on development, enabling Mauritius to strengthen its domestic capabilities in space systems, illustrating how targeted technology transfer can empower emerging space nations, stimulate local innovation, and lay the groundwork for a sustainable and competitive space industry.
Mauritius, India
Support technology transfer initiatives to build local capabilities - Mauritius and India
Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) programme is one of the most generous R&D tax incentive schemes globally. It offers a 35% refundable tax credit for Canadian-controlled private corporations and a 15% non-refundable credit for larger or foreign-owned firms. These incentives apply to space-related R&D, including satellite systems, aerospace engineering, and space data applications.
Canada
Introduce tax incentives and subsidies to boost private sector participation - Canada
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
The UAE has prominently featured Hazzaa AlMansoori, the nation’s first astronaut, in national outreach campaigns. Following his 2019 mission to the International Space Station, AlMansoori became a central figure in school visits, public talks, and media appearances. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and UAE Space Agency have used his story to inspire youth and promote STEM careers, aligning with the nation’s broader space ambitions.
United Arab Emirates
Collaborate with influential national role models to boost space awareness - UAE
The Universidad del Valle de Guatemala partnered with major newspaper Prensa Libre to document and share their CubeSat development journey through a dedicated media series and a published book, making space innovation accessible and inspiring to the public.
Guatemala
Engage traditional and social media to build public interest in space - Guatemala

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