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 2024, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) signed an MoU with the US-based SERA (Space Exploration & Research Agency) to send Nigeria’s first astronaut to space aboard a Blue Origin suborbital flight.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: Lite contributions such as hosting ground infrastructure, astronaut training/seat on suborbital flights• Ballpark: USD 5M–50M• Includes: site preparation and hosting agreements for ground stations or tracking facilities, procurement of astronaut training or suborbital seat access, national coordination and outreach, staff training, international partnership managementFull contributions such as payloads for robotic missions, participation in lunar or Mars missions• Ballpark: USD 50M–500M• Includes: co-funding of mission development (orbiters, rovers, landers), design and testing of national payloads/instruments, astronaut training and long-duration mission participation, ground segment development, integration into international exploration consortia Timeframe: Lite contributions• Overall 24–48 mo• Phase: partnership negotiations (6–12 mo), infrastructure/payload preparation (12–18 mo), execution (6–12 mo), follow-up and data exploitation (6–12 mo)Full contributions• Overall 60–120 mo• Phase: partnership establishment and scoping (12–24 mo), payload/mission development (24–48 mo), integration & testing (12–24 mo), launch/mission operations (12–24 mo)Pros: • Expands Access to Missions - 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.
Nigeria
Develop joint partnerships in space exploration - Nigeria
Thailand Space Development and Research Agency (GISTSDA), ispace (Japan) and mu Space (Thailand) agreed to collaborate on Lunar Exploration Mission for Thailand’s National Space programme. The collaboration will focus on research and development, human resource development, and the sharing of expertise in space technology.Prerequisites:• Partnerships with established agencies • Technical expertise in universities and research centres to design and exploit experiments• Identification of common needs with partners, identification of capabilities of different partners• Procurement pathway• Partner support as needed• Data policy• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planningCost: • Ballpark: USD 100k–5M (depending on whether MoU-based collaboration, training, or hardware contribution is included)• Includes: scoping and signing of agreements (MoUs, PPPs, industrial frameworks), joint workshops and roadmaps, training programmes with industry partners, technology demonstrations and pilot projects, potential co-development of exploration hardware (rovers, payloads, habitats), dissemination of knowledge and integration into local industryTimeframe: • Overall: 12–36 mo (for initial frameworks; longer if hardware projects are pursued)• Phase: scoping & partnership negotiations (3–6 mo), agreement signing & roadmap development (3–6 mo), pilot projects/training/knowledge transfer (6–18 mo), evaluation & scaling (6–12 mo)Pros: • Accelerates Development - Industry partnerships boost tech development and grow skilled talent together.• Leverages Private-Sector Agility and Funding - Utilises the speed, flexibility, and investment capacity of private partners.• Reduces Costs and Shares Risks - Joint efforts lower costs and spread development risks.Considerations: • Requires Complex Coordination - Managing diverse partners across nations and sectors demands strong governance.• Challenging Legal and IP Management - Differences in legal systems and IP frameworks can hinder cooperation.
Thailand
Establish cooperative international frameworks with industry - Thailand
In 2024, the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Axiom Space, a US-based company in commercial space infrastructure. This strategic partnership aims to enhance Ghana’s national space capabilities through collaboration in human spaceflight, space science, technology development, and STEM education.Prerequisites: • Partnerships with established agencies • Technical expertise in universities and research centres to design and exploit experiments• Identification of common needs with partners, identification of capabilities of different partners• Procurement pathway• Partner support as needed• Data policy• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planningCost: • Ballpark: USD 100k–5M (depending on whether MoU-based collaboration, training, or hardware contribution is included)• Includes: scoping and signing of agreements (MoUs, PPPs, industrial frameworks), joint workshops and roadmaps, training programmes with industry partners, technology demonstrations and pilot projects, potential co-development of exploration hardware (rovers, payloads, habitats), dissemination of knowledge and integration into local industryTimeframe: • Overall: 12–36 mo (for initial frameworks; longer if hardware projects are pursued)• Phase: scoping & partnership negotiations (3–6 mo), agreement signing & roadmap development (3–6 mo), pilot projects/training/knowledge transfer (6–18 mo), evaluation & scaling (6–12 mo)Pros: • Accelerates Development - Industry partnerships boost tech development and grow skilled talent together.• Leverages Private-Sector Agility and Funding - utilises the speed, flexibility, and investment capacity of private partners.Reduces Costs and Shares Risks - Joint efforts lower costs and spread development risks.Considerations: • Requires Complex Coordination - Managing diverse partners across nations and sectors demands strong governance.• Challenging Legal and IP Management - Differences in legal systems and IP frameworks can hinder cooperation.
Ghana
Establish cooperative international frameworks with industry - Ghana
The Japanese government, under the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT), and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) have set aside a budget estimated at 6.7 billion USD over 10 years for private companies and universities to work on technology development for up to 10 years. This fund will support satellite, transportation, exploration, etc.Prerequisites: • Identify and build relationships with ministries likely to be using or requiring space exploration technologies• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as needeCost: • 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:• Success Rate Increase - Increases the likelihood of securing adequate financial support for space projects.• Provides foreseeability for industry - Long termConsiderations: • Prioritisation - Necessary to understand the nation's priorities and needs to determine which activities to fund.• Timeline - Prioritising activities may require significant consideration and time.
Japan
Identify complementary funding initiatives in your government - Japan
The Mexican Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Mexicana, AEM) signed an agreement with the US company Astrobotic Technology to promote the development and delivery of Mexico’s first payload to the Moon.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: • Ballpark: USD 1M–10M• Includes: design and development of small-scale payload (sensor, experiment, cultural/educational payload), testing and integration with host lander/mission, basic operations and data sharing, international partnership coordinationTimeframe: • Overall: 24–48 mo• Phases: scoping/partnership negotiation (6–9 mo) → design/procurement (9–15 mo) → integration/testing (6–12 mo) → operations/data use (6–12 mo)Pros: • Reduces Government Costs - Using commercial technologies and funding helps lower public spending• Accelerates Capability Development - Business partnerships can speed up the development of human spaceflight systems through private-sector innovation and expertise.Considerations: • Reduced Public Control - Private sector priorities may not fully align with national goals, affecting mission direction• Complex Agreements - Partnerships may involve difficult negotiations over IP rights, regulations, and liability
Mexico
Identify opportunities to contribute to exploration mission payload - Mexico
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) of UAE signed an agreement with Axiom Space to fly a UAE professional crew member to the International Space Station.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:• Reduces Government Costs - Using existing commercial technologies and allows nations to leapfrog and obtain services and opportunities without having to develop the technologies and infrastructures from scratch, helping lower public spending• Accelerates Capability Development - Business partnerships can speed up the development of human spaceflight systems through private-sector innovation and expertise.Considerations: • Reduced Public Control - Private sector priorities may not fully align with national goals, affecting mission direction• Complex Agreements - Partnerships may involve difficult negotiations over IP rights, regulations, and liability
United Arab Emirates
Identify opportunities to contribute to exploration mission payload - UAE
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US and the European Space Agency (ESA) are jointly conducting the Mars Sample Return (MSR). Instead of one nation bearing the full cost (several billion dollars) of retrieving Martian samples, NASA and ESA share responsibilities and funding. NASA is responsible for developing the Mars ascent rocket and the sample collection rover Perseverance, while ESA funds the Fetch Rover and the Earth Return Orbiter. Both agencies signed formal agreements between 2020 and 2022, solidifying the co-funded approach.Prerequisites: • Needs assessment to identify relevant areas to fund space exploration R&D• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–250k (not including cost for funding to be provided)• Includes: fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support. Timeframe: • Overall: 12-60 months• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)Pros: • Risk Management through Cooperation - By partnering with other nations, the financial burden of research and development can be sharedConsiderations: • Conflicting Interests - Divergent national interests and priorities may lead to conflicts• Articulation - Coordinating some nations' timelines and can be challenging and time-consuming
USA
Launch co-funding initiatives - US and EU Member States
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US has awarded approximately USD 1.5M to academic, nonprofit, and business organisations through its Dual-Use Technology Development Cooperative Agreement Notices (CANs) to advance cutting-edge technologies for the Artemis program and future Moon to Mars missions. These agreements aim to close identified technology gaps in components and systems critical to NASA’s architecture. Twenty-four projects from 21 organisations have been selected under this initiative.Prerequisites: • Needs assessment to identify relevant areas to fund space exploration related activities• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–250k• Includes: fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support. Funding will depend on the type and duration of activities.Timeframe: • Overall: 12-60 months• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)Pros: • Scope Focus - By focusing funding on projects tailored to specific use cases, organisations can strengthen expertise and technological capabilities, enhancing competitiveness. By strategically focusing resources on key projects, organisations can achieve optimal resource allocation and efficient operations.Considerations: • Prioritization - Necessary to understand the nation's priorities and needs to determine which activities to fund.• Timeline - Prioritizing activities may require significant consideration and time.
USA
Launch focused funding initiatives - US (CANs)
The Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) is a public-private funding initiative launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US in 2018. Through this program, NASA contracts private companies to deliver scientific and technological payloads to the lunar surface. By leveraging CLPS, NASA aims to enable lunar exploration in a cost-effective and timely manner, while accelerating technology demonstrations and infrastructure development in preparation for the Artemis program and future crewed lunar landings.Prerequisites:• Needs assessment to identify relevant areas to fund space exploration related activities• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–250k (not including cost for funding to be provided)• Includes: fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support.Timeframe: • Overall: 12-60 months• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)Pros:• Scope Focus - By focusing funding on projects tailored to specific use cases, organisations can strengthen expertise and technological capabilities, enhancing competitiveness. By strategically focusing resources on key projects, organisations can achieve optimal resource allocation and efficient operations.Considerations:• Prioritization - Necessary to understand the nation's priorities and needs to determine which activities to fund.• Timeline - Prioritizing activities may require significant consideration and time.
USA
Launch focused funding initiatives - US (CLPS)
Through the "Send Your Name to Mars" campaign, the National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA) of the US invited people from all over the world to submit their names, resulting in a total of 10,932,295 submissions. These names are recorded on three fingernail-sized chips mounted on the Mars 2020 rover, Perseverance, which now resides on the surface of Mars. NASA leverages its missions to actively engage the public, raising interest and enthusiasm for space exploration.Prerequisites: • Presence of dedicated public outreach teams or personnel.• Established networks with media, educational institutions, and science museumsCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–500k (depending on scope: small outreach campaign vs national programme)• Includes: development of communication strategy and branding, production of multimedia content (TV, radio, online, VR/AR), organisation of outreach events (lectures, exhibitions, science festivals), astronaut and scientist public engagement tours, partnerships with schools and universities, evaluation of public awareness and STEM interestTimeframe: • Overall: 6–24 mo• Phase: scoping & strategy design (2–4 mo), content and campaign development (3–6 mo), rollout of outreach activities (6–12 mo), evaluation and reinforcement (3–6 mo)Pros: • Promotes STEM Education and Youth Engagement - Space exploration stories inspire students and encourage pursuit of science and engineering careers.• Boosts National Pride and Scientific Image - Visible achievements enhance national pride and improve the nation’s reputation in science and technology.Considerations:• Requires Sustained Efforts to Maintain Public Engagement - Public interest in space can fade without ongoing, engaging communication and visible progress.
USA
Leverage science and exploration missions for inspiration - US
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) live-streamed the Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing on its official YouTube channel, drawing over 8 million concurrent viewers and setting a new record for the highest live viewership in YouTube history. The event also gained widespread attention on social media, sparking real-time discussions both in India and around the world.Prerequisites: • Presence of dedicated public outreach teams or personnel.• Established networks with media, educational institutions, and science museumsCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–500k (depending on scope: small outreach campaign vs national programme)• Includes: development of communication strategy and branding, production of multimedia content (TV, radio, online, VR/AR), organisation of outreach events (lectures, exhibitions, science festivals), astronaut and scientist public engagement tours, partnerships with schools and universities, evaluation of public awareness and STEM interestTimeframe: • Overall: 6–24 mo• Phase: scoping & strategy design (2–4 mo), content and campaign development (3–6 mo), rollout of outreach activities (6–12 mo), evaluation and reinforcement (3–6 mo)Pros: • Promotes STEM Education and Youth Engagement - Space exploration stories inspire students and encourage pursuit of science and engineering careers.• Boosts National Pride and Scientific Image - Visible achievements enhance national pride and improve the nation’s reputation in science and technology.Considerations: • Requires Sustained Efforts to Maintain Public Engagement - Public interest in space can fade without ongoing, engaging communication and visible progress.
India
Leverage science and exploration missions for inspiration - India
The European Space Agency (ESA)'s Rosetta comet mission (2004–2016) succeeded in transforming a complex science mission into an engaging story through creative public outreach. ESA's communications team produced an animated series featuring the anthropomorphic "Rosetta" probe and "Philae" lander, explaining the mission's goals to a wide audience. Events such as Philae's comet landing in 2014, were broadcast live and captivated millions worldwide.Prerequisites: • Presence of dedicated public outreach teams or personnel.• Established networks with media, educational institutions, and science museumsCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–500k (depending on scope: small outreach campaign vs national programme)• Includes: development of communication strategy and branding, production of multimedia content (TV, radio, online, VR/AR), organisation of outreach events (lectures, exhibitions, science festivals), astronaut and scientist public engagement tours, partnerships with schools and universities, evaluation of public awareness and STEM interestTimeframe: • Overall: 6–24 mo• Phase: scoping & strategy design (2–4 mo), content and campaign development (3–6 mo), rollout of outreach activities (6–12 mo), evaluation and reinforcement (3–6 mo)Pros: • Promotes STEM Education and Youth Engagement - Space exploration stories inspire students and encourage pursuit of science and engineering careers.• Boosts National Pride and Scientific Image - Visible achievements enhance national pride and improve the nation’s reputation in science and technology.Considerations: • Requires Sustained Efforts to Maintain Public Engagement - Public interest in space can fade without ongoing, engaging communication and visible progress.
Europe
Leverage science and exploration missions for inspiration - ESA Member States
The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) is a multinational lunar base initiative jointly led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Russia’s state space corporation, Roscosmos. Since its inception in 2021, many nations have joined the project by signing memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for cooperation. The ILRS aims to establish a base on the lunar surface or in lunar orbit that enables multidisciplinary scientific research, including exploration, resource utilization, and long-term autonomous operations.For example, the governments of Egypt (represented by the Egyptian Space Agency) and South Africa (represented by the South African National Space Agency) have signed a cooperation agreement with China to join ILRS.Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2023/12/08/egypt-joins-china-led-international-lunar-research-station-initiative/Prerequisites: • Partnerships with established agencies • Technical expertise in universities and research centres to design and exploit experiments• Identification of common needs with partners, identification of capabilities of different partners• Procurement pathway• Partner support as needed• Data policy• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planningCost: • Ballpark: USD 0.5M–50M (depending on contribution type: experiment vs payload vs full instrument)• Includes: partnership agreements and diplomatic engagement, development of joint research or experiment, design and testing of payloads/instruments (e.g., CubeSats, sensors), integration with partner spacecraft or programme, participation in mission operations, researcher training and exchanges, dissemination of scientific resultsTimeframe: • Overall: 24–96 mo• Phase: partnership scoping & agreements (6–12 mo), experiment or payload design & development (12–36 mo), integration & testing (6–18 mo), launch & commissioning (6–12 mo), mission operations & data analysis (12–24 mo)Pros: Access to Technology and Expertise - Gain access to advanced technology and expertise from leading space nations.Reputation Increase - Builds international credibility and technical trust.Considerations: Risk of Ineffectiveness - May play a secondary role with limited influence.Policy Dependency - Dependent on the policies and budgets of leading nations.
Participate in space programmes led by advanced nations -ILRS
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US operates a structured funding framework to support research and development in the private sector, particularly for small businesses. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programmes provide phased grants to companies developing technologies relevant to NASA's goals.Prerequisites: • Identify key stakeholders such as the government, industry, and academia, and build relationships with them.• Encourage involvement in the consortium.• National space policy/strategy with clear lead agency and budget line• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost:• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k (not including cost for funding to be provided)• Includes: fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support.Timeframe: • Overall: 12-60 months• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)Pros: • Mitigating Cost - By sharing R&D costs among consortium members, organisations can reduce individual financial burdens and make large-scale projects more feasible.• Improved Access - Participation in a consortium can provide access to new markets and opportunities through shared networks and partnerships.Considerations: • Articulation - Managing and coordinating multiple stakeholders with different objectives and priorities can be challenging and may require robust governance/operating structures.• Timeline and Distant RoI - R&D projects often require extended timelines, which can be challenging for organisations seeking quick returns on investment.
USA
Set up dedicated R&D funding mechanisms for industry - US
The Moonlight Programme is a lunar communication and navigation infrastructure project led by the European Space Agency (ESA), aimed at providing high-speed communications and precise navigation services for future lunar missions. The programme functions as an R&D funding initiative, in which ESA provides research and development funding to an industrial consortium led by Telespazio. It supports the advancement of private-sector technologies while simultaneously promoting the development of a lunar economy. The system is being developed in phases, with full operational capability expected by 2030.Prerequisites: • Identify key stakeholders such as the government, industry, and academia, and build relationships with them.• Encourage involvement in the consortium.• National space policy/strategy with clear lead agency and budget line• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–250k (not including cost for funding to be provided)• Includes: fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support.Timeframe: • Overall: 12-60 months• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)Pros: • Mitigating Cost - By sharing R&D costs among consortium members, organisations can reduce individual financial burdens and make large-scale projects more feasible.• Improved Access - Participation in a consortium can provide access to new markets and opportunities through shared networks and partnerships.Considerations: • Articulation - Managing and coordinating multiple stakeholders with different objectives and priorities can be challenging and may require robust governance/operating structures.• Timeline and Distant RoI - R&D projects often require extended timelines, which can be challenging for organisations seeking quick returns on investment.
Europe
Set up dedicated R&D funding mechanisms for industry - ESA Member States
The Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN) is an industry development programme established by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the aim of accelerating research and development in the commercial sector to create new markets in Low Earth Orbit and on the Moon. To support emerging economic opportunities and promote the entry of private companies and the stimulation of demand, ESA has established four Industry Accelerators focused on Life Sciences, Lunar Space Resources, Advanced and In-orbit Manufacturing, and Agris-food. In collaboration with industrial partners, BSGN selects, supports, and co-funds project teams across Europe to foster the development of innovative space businesses.Prerequisites: • Identify key stakeholders such as the government, industry, and academia, and build relationships with them• Encourage involvement in the consortium• National space policy/strategy with clear lead agency and budget line• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–250k (not including cost for funding to be provided)• Includes: fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support.Timeframe: • Overall: 12-60 months• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)Pros: • Mitigating Cost - By sharing R&D costs among consortium members, organisations can reduce individual financial burdens and make large-scale projects more feasible.• Improved Access - Participation in a consortium can provide access to new markets and opportunities through shared networks and partnerships.Considerations: • Articulation - Managing and coordinating multiple stakeholders with different objectives and priorities can be challenging and may require robust governance/operating structures.• Timeline and Distant RoI - R&D projects often require extended timelines, which can be challenging for organisations seeking quick returns on investment.
Europe
Set up dedicated R&D funding mechanisms for industry - EU Member States
The Australian Space Agency has established the "Moon to Mars" initiative, which is a commitment to invest $91 million USD over five years to promote the growth of Australia's space industry. The initiative includes the design and development of an Australian-made rover that will be sent to the Moon in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US in the coming decades.Prerequisites: • Identify key stakeholders such as the government, industry, and academia, and build relationships with them.• Encourage involvement in the consortium.• National space policy/strategy with clear lead agency and budget line• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding• Lead agency & budget• Procurement pathway• Partner support as neededCost:• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k (not including cost for funding to be provided)• Includes: fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support.Timeframe: • Overall: 12-60 months• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)Pros: • Mitigating Cost - By sharing R&D costs among consortium members, organisations can reduce individual financial burdens and make large-scale projects more feasible.• Improved Access - Participation in a consortium can provide access to new markets and opportunities through shared networks and partnerships.Considerations: • Articulation - Managing and coordinating multiple stakeholders with different objectives and priorities can be challenging and may require robust governance/operating structures.• Timeline and Distant RoI - R&D projects often require extended timelines, which can be challenging for organisations seeking quick returns on investment.
Australia
Set up dedicated R&D funding mechanisms for industry - Australia
The Brazilian Space Program Development Committee (CDPEB, acronym in Portuguese) is a collegial body composed of Ministerial Departments that work towards enhancing the Brazilian Space Programme. The initiative to propose the creation of the CBPEB, through a presidential decree, addressed various constituent elements of the PEB that are intended to be improved, aiming to meet both strategic structural needs and the analysis of specific obstacles, whose magnitude and complexity represent significant and immobilizing impacts on the progress of that Programme. Competencies The Brazilian Space Program Development Committee, in advising the President of the Republic, is responsible for formulating proposals on: The necessary subsidies for enhancing the Brazilian Space Program The development and use of technologies applicable to the Brazilian Space Sector, in the areas of launch infrastructure, launch vehicles, and orbital and suborbital artifacts; and The supervision of the execution of measures necessary for enhancing the Brazilian Space Programme The CDPEB has 8 permanent members, representatives of the Federal Public Administration bodies, also allowing the participation, by invitation related to the relevance of the ongoing matter, of other bodies and entities of the federal Executive Power and private entities. It is composed of the following members: I - Minister of State Chief of the Institutional Security Office of the Presidency of the Republic, who will coordinate it; II - Minister of State Chief of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic; III - Minister of State of Defence; IV - Minister of State of Foreign Affairs; V - Minister of State of Economy; VI - Minister of State of Science, Technology, and Innovation; VII - Minister of State of Communications; and VIII - Attorney General of the Union.Prerequisites: • Institutional & political interest and support • Build collaborative relationship and gain support form relevant ministries • Inter-ministerial working groupCost: • Ballpark: USD 10k–100k• Includes: Inter-ministerial workshops, policy/legal advisory support, stakeholder consultations, drafting coordination frameworks, outreach materialsTimeframe: • Overall: 6–18 months• Phase: Scoping (1–3 mo, consultation & drafting (3–6 mo, validation & adoption (3–9 mo)Pros: • Improved Coordination - Clarifies who owns/needs what data and how it can be used effectively • Informed Investment - Helps ministries justify future investments in Access to Space infrastructure• Capacity Building - Builds local understanding of data gaps and spatial tools• Foundation for Policy - Supports long-term strategy developmentConsiderations: • Initial Cost Without Immediate ROI - Benefits may be long-term and indirect • Sustainability Risk - Without follow-up funding, recommendations may not be implemented
Brazil
Align with priorities of relevant ministries - Brazil
In the mid-2010s, the UK shifted its space strategy from primarily purchasing satellite services to developing sovereign launch capabilities. This included reallocating funds from general space science and satellite programs to spaceport development, launch vehicle support and regulatory frameworks for commercial launch licensing. Aligning with this strategy, the UK Space Agency launched the UK Spaceflight Programme, which included $50 million USD in initial funding for spaceport and launch vehicle development. Additional support was provided through the European Space Agency (ESA) Boost! Programme and Levelling Up Fund.The government worked with industry to identify which activities that could be supported within the existing budget and prioritised funding for infrastructure and launch readiness.Prerequisites: • Understand access to space needs in your nation• Evaluate current technological capabilities and identify areas that require developmentCost: • Ballpark: USD 50k–250k• Includes: literature review and baseline study, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validationTimeframe: • Overall: 12–24 mo• Phase: scoping & consultations (3–6 mo), draft policy/legal review (4–8 mo), approval & adoption (5–10 mo)Pros: • Budget Optimization – Leverages existing budgets to enable efficient allocation of funds.Considerations: • Stakeholder Engagement Burden – Requires involvement of experts and relevant stakeholders, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
United Kingdom
Define and prioritise Access to Space activities in your space budgets - UK
The European Space Agency (ESA), through its Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), conducts a strategic assessment to identify and address capability gaps in Europe’s space transportation sector, with the goal of ensuring long-term competitiveness and autonomy in launch systems.Methodology: System Studies and Technology Road mapping. ESA evaluates future launch system concepts and identifies critical technologies needed to support themIndustry and Partner Engagement: Works closely with European industry, research institutions, and national space agencies to align priorities and co-develop solutions, fostering a collaborative innovation ecosystemCapability Gap Identification: Analyses global trends, mission requirements, and industrial capabilities to identify strategic gaps in Europe’s launch capabilitiesPrerequisites: • 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 launch 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 20k-70k and include multiple activities such as determining the relevance of the domain 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: • Informed Investment Decisions – Enables informed decision-making by identifying areas that require investment and improvement.• Goal Setting – Facilitates strategic planning by setting clear goals and priorities.Considerations: • Time and Expertise Demands – Requires significant time and specialized expertise to conduct thorough assessments, adding strain to institutional resources.
Europe
Carry out a capability maturity assessment - ESA Member States

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