Page 34 - International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 3rd edition.

number of highly qualified personnel trained show science community while diversifying and growing
that transfer of know-how and technology from space the ISS user community. Resulting from the first
exploration results in economic growth, positions such partnership, ICE Cubes is the first European
stakeholders in the space sector to seize opportunities, commercial facility to conduct research inside ESA’s
opens new markets, and creates quality jobs and Columbus laboratory. Launched in May 2018, the
wealth for Canadians. Furthermore, Canada’s service provides rapid and simplified access to the
participation in the ISS Program has an unparalleled space station on a commercial basis while also allowing
power to inspire and engage Canadian youth in users to interact with their experiment directly. In 2019,
STEM, thus strengthening science culture and literacy, a second partnership—the versatile Bartolomeo
improving employment in high-quality jobs and commercial all-in-one mission service—will provide
ultimately growing the economy. The Canadian Space end-to-end access for external payloads on the space
Agency’s (CSA’s) participation in the ISS program also station for many mission types at competitive prices.
contributes to the improvement of life on Earth, as It offers an unobstructed view of Earth, direct control
scientific discoveries and technologies, developed using of the experiments from the ground via a high-speed
the ISS, advance knowledge of human health, and data feed, and the possibility of retrieving samples.
contribute to resolving the challenges we face on Earth. Commercial partnerships stimulate private sector
In 2016, Canada confirmed that it will continue to engagement in space exploration and foster innovative
be a partner in the ISS Program until the end of 2024. and inspiring approaches. These services strengthen
The CSA will soon propose options to the Canadian the competitiveness of the space and non-space
government to pursue our engagement in human industrial base, stimulate R&D, and infuse innovative
exploration after 2024 and participate in future initiatives solutions within ESA space exploration missions.
with the ambition to be a key player in the international To further nurture commercial research and applications
efforts to explore deep space and to open the space in space, ESA is soliciting proposals for industry-
frontier to humanity. driven research, jointly implemented by the European
Exploration Envelope Programme and the ESA
Business Applications Programme. The selection
European Space Agency process will include assessment of market potential.

LEO offers unique conditions for science and Research projects that are selected will be implemented
technology research and, as such, remains an in a stepwise manner, with a final phase aimed at
exploration destination of utmost interest for Europe. demonstrating the ability to successfully introduce
The European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Space 4.0 a new commercial service or product.
strategy aims to transition LEO activities from focusing ESA is also organizing the Space Exploration Masters
on operating the ISS as a government-run laboratory to support innovation and commercially driven
to stimulating a vibrant LEO economy and providing applications. This competition takes place annually with
added value services to ESA and other institutional strong world-class partners bridging space and non-
and private sector actors. space sectors. It includes a variety of challenges aimed
Therefore, while ISS operations continue, ESA is to foster commercial ISS utilization and engagement of
taking concrete steps to implement commercial start-ups in future exploration activities. The challenges
partnerships solicited through a permanently open call. of the 2018 edition include ideas that are stimulating
The partnerships aim at providing complementary ISS innovative continuous applications, energy provision, life
capabilities and services that benefit the European support systems, biological functions, plant germination
processes, resources utilization, material exploitation
processes, detection and measurement, etc., for the
purposes of space exploration.

Commercial partnerships stimulate Italian Space Agency
private sector engagement in space From an economic standpoint, this is a transitional
exploration and foster innovative time in LEO. The private sector is realizing the market
and inspiring approaches. potential and continues to innovate as new companies
establish a presence. The Italian Space Agency (ASI)
considers technology transfer essential to foster
the development of new value-added services and

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