Historical Analogs for the Stimulation of Space Commerce: Case Studies of the Transcontinental Railroad, Aerospace Industry, Telephone Industry, Scientific Research in Antarctica, Public Works

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this is an excellent study that investigates and analyzes historical episodes in America in which the federal government undertook public-private efforts to complete critical activities valued for their public good. This combination largely resulted from a lack of either sufficient political will to fund them entirely out of the public treasury or insufficient profit motive for private firms to undertake them for purely business reasons. The six case studies include the following: 1) the development of the transcontinental railroad, supported by a unique land-grant approach to subsidy; 2) support for the airline industry through legislation, appropriate regulation, and subsidies to grow a robust air transport capability; 3) the regulatory regime put into place with the rise of the telephone industry and the creation of a government-sponsored monopoly that eventually had to be broken up; 4) government sponsorship of Antarctic scientific stations that evolved into a public-private partnership (PPP) over time; 5) the fostering of a range of public works projects and their success or failure over time; and 6) the establishment of scenic and cultural conservation zones in the United States and ways to balance economic development with preservation.
With the rise of a range of private-sector entrepreneurial firms interested in pursuing space commerce, the process whereby their efforts might be incubated, fostered, and expanded comes to the fore as an important public policy concern in a way never before present in the Space Age. In the United States, and really nowhere else in the world, we are witnessing the convergence of several powerful economic forces. These include the need to restore American capability to reach low-Earth orbit (LEO) for the servicing of the International Space Station (ISS), the rise of a hospitality/tourism/entertainment industry interested in space, the development of expansive remote sensing and other applications in Earth orbit, and the possibilities envisioned for opening commercial space activities in the cislunar region.
Executive Summary and Findings * Introduction * A Breathless Survey of American Spaceflight History * Commercial Activities in Space * The Use and Abuse of Historical Analogs * Case Studies * Developing the Transcontinental Railroad * Fostering the Aerospace Industry * Creating the Telephone Industry * Supporting Scientific Research in Antarctica * Advancing Public Works * Making Accessible Scenic and Cultural Conservation Zones * Conclusion * Selective Annotated Bibliography * Key Historical Studies * Key Civil Space History Studies * Key Historical Analog Studies