SUMMARY

With the International Space Station (ISS) now in orbit, new frontiers in human space exploration, technology, and business have opened. The ISS is an unparalleled international scientific and technological cooperative venture that will usher in a new era of human space flight with economic benefits to people on Earth.

The ISS will provide more space for research, with greater resources and flexibility than any spacecraft ever built. The ISS provides unprecedented, long-term access to the microgravity and ultra-vacuum environment of space, a flexible vantage point for observational research, and a testbed for new technologies.

Commercial Mandate

The 1998 Commercial Space Act (Public Law 105-303) promotes commercial space opportunities and establishes as national policy that a priority goal of constructing the ISS is the economic development of Earth orbital space. To this end NASA has created a process for working with companies to make ISS economic opportunities available. 

Commercial Plan and Pathfinder Program

NASA developed and released the Commercial Development Plan for the ISS (Nov. 16, 1998) to stimulate the economic development of low Earth orbit. 

The strategy is for NASA in partnership with the private sector to initiate a set of pathfinder business ventures that can achieve profitable operations over the long run without public subsidies. These business pathfinders will break down public sector and market barriers in the near term and lead to economic expansion over the long run.

Scope of Commercial Opportunities

Investors can propose to utilize, operate, or develop new capabilities for the ISS. To ensure that there will be adequate opportunities available for commercial uses, NASA has committed to set aside approximately 30 percent of the U.S. share of the ISS's research capacity for economic development.

HOW TO BECOME A COMMERCIAL PARTICIPANT ON THE ISS:

The Entrepreneurial Offer

Entrepreneurial offers are private investment offers to NASA to open new, commercial, markets that are related to the ISS, without the benefit of government funds. Entrepreneurial offers are expected to be similar to a standard business plan with accompanying technical detail.

Companies retain the option to submit unsolicited proposals. While entrepreneurial offers are designed to stimulate development of new space markets and require private investment in the use of the ISS, unsolicited proposals are submitted primarily by a company seeking a contract with funding from NASA. NASA has no currently appropriated funds, nor does NASA anticipate future appropriations, for funding commercial ventures.

Intellectual property protection

NASA has established policies to protect the proposer's intellectual property from initial contact through exit and final results. More details can be found in the Intellectual Property Guide.

Pricing

NASA has established a pricing policy designed to stimulate investment by industry in the development of space markets. The policy is based the market's perception of value.

Single point of contact

A single point of contact has been designated to facilitate industry interaction with the ISS. This office will work with companies from the initial exploratory phase, and during formal entry, implementation, and exit. A staff member will be assigned to act as account manager throughout the company's involvement. Contact this office for further information, or for a preliminary, proprietary discussion regarding your potential offer.

For more information on how to get involved:

Director
Research Integration and Product Development Division
Office of Biological and Physical Research
Code UM
NASA Headquarters
300 E Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20546