ABSTRACT
New or existing international institutions could be utilized for development, ownership, and operation of space stations. Examination of domestic institutional alternatives that are available in the United States illustrates the range of domestic entities that could own and operate space stations. One federal institutional alternative for the conduct of operational space systems would be that of a federal agency. The demand for multiple participation will create the necessity to examine a range of institutional alternatives and to determine which are optimal for each type of space station in terms of meeting the demand for multiple participation as well as promoting a variety of space goods and services. A distinction between international and domestic entities is necessary to facilitate the assessment of the institutional alternatives with regard to space stations. For each of the private-sector institutional alternatives there exists a range of governmental actions that conceivably could enhance the private sector's ability to finance space stations.
