ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to examine economic and policy issues related to the use of earth-orbiting satellites to produce goods and services vital to mankind. The development of reliable, low-cost transportation has historically been a major factor in economic development. Future opportunities for outer space production will most likely come about from those products that are in the research and development stages of technical activity. Commercial satellite communications systems provide a fast and reliable worldwide communication link. Most present-day satellite communication is handled by common carriers who integrate their space communications into their existing ground networks. The development of the capabilities to manufacture specialized materials and to collect solar energy for retransmission to earth as electrical energy are typical of goods and services that are in the research phase of technical activity. Since the fundamental purpose of satellite solar power system is an economic one, it is appropriate to evaluate the concept in an economic context.
