The political economy of the space age : how science and technology shape the evolution of human society
Andrea Sommariva (Author)
This book provides answers to the questions of why human-kind should go into space, and on the relative roles of governments and markets in the evolution of the space economy. It adopts an interdisciplinary approach to answer those questions. It studies processes that transform the economy through the interactions among diverse economic agents, governments, and the extra-systemic environment in which governments operate. Its historical part helps to better understand motivations and constraints - technical, political, and economical - that shaped the growth of the space economy. In the medium term, global issues - such as population changes, critical or limited natural resources, and environmental damages
xxii, 234 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.
9781622732647, 1622732642
1027749341
Chapter 1. The invention stage
Chapter 2. The dawn of the space economy, 1950-1970: the innovation process stage
Chapter 3. The space economy between 1970 and today: the diffusion stage
Chapter 4. The political economy of the new space age
Chapter 5. The space economy beyond Earth orbit: space mining
Chapter 6. The development of the space economy beyond Earth orbit: Mars
Chapter 7. The ultimate challenge: the exploration and colonization of extrasolar planets
Chapter 8. Final Remarks