G. Haskell, Symposium Programme Committee Chair, Vice President,
Administration and Programme Development, International Space University
e-mail: Haskell@isu.isunet.edu M. Rycroft, Faculty Member, International
Space University e-mail: Rycroft@isu.isunet.edu The theme of the fourth
annual symposium arranged by the International Space University (ISU)
was "International Space Station: The Next Space Marketplace". The
Symposium covered this topic from the uniqu- interdisciplinary,
international and intercultural - perspectives of ISU. It focussed on
significant issues related to policy, innovative management, commerce,
regulation, education and outreach rather than concentrating on
engineering and scientific issues. Although admirable progress has
already been made in defining the utilisation of the International Space
Station (ISS) in its early operational phases, what does the future
hold? What important new applications will arise? What commercial
opportunities may emerge? And how will the political, legal and
financial hurdles be overcome, not to mention the technical challenges?
The aim of the Symposium was to discuss such questions and draw out new
ways of using the Space Station in the future. Among the 120 attendees
were members of the fourth Master of Space Studies class, young
professionals and postgraduate students who are developing the
Symposium's theme in their Team Project. Their comprehensive overview of
the subject is presented as an Annex here. Their final report on the
Team Project will be completed at the end of July 1999, and published
separately.
