The Path to a Sustainable LEO Economy Beyond the ISS

April 4, 2024 • By Ray Lugo, CEO of CASIS, manager of the ISS National Laboratory

This piece is part of our Forging the Path series in which CASIS experts share knowledge and insight from their experience managing a national lab in space.

Ray Lugo serves as chief executive officer of CASIS, manager of the ISS National Lab. Within this role, he is responsible for implementing strategic objectives that enable space-based research that brings value to our nation and builds a robust and sustainable market in low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles..

When I joined NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration roughly 50 years ago, I marveled at the incredible programs that the agency was engaged in. It was the end of the Apollo Program to the Moon, the beginning of the Voyager Program to study the outer planets, and the start of the Space Shuttle Program. Early on, I realized that I am not a Nobel Prize winner and accomplished scientist like Dr. John Mather, and I would have to contribute to the incredible accomplishments of space exploration in another way. My role would be facilitating and managing the programs conceived by these great minds. That led me to my current role as chief executive officer of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™(Abbreviation: CASIS™) The nonprofit organization that manages the ISS National Lab, which receives at least 50 percent of the U.S. research allocation on the International Space Station to facilitate research that benefits humanity (NASA manages the other 50% and focuses on research for space exploration purposes).), manager of the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Laboratory.

Today, just like back in 1975, NASA is executing an ambitious agenda that will change history and the way humans live in the future. Artemis is building on the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs to take us back to the Moon and beyond. Voyager has passed beyond the heliopause into interstellar space, where we don’t know what exploration lies ahead for the twin spacecraft as they travel through uncharted territory. And as one of the greatest technological achievements in history, the ISS has been continuously occupied for more than 20 years by astronauts who have learned how to live and work in space.

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

For more than a decade, CASIS has managed the ISS National Lab. In this time, we have leveraged the unique space environment for research and technology development (R&D) to benefit humanity and build an economy in low Earth orbit (LEO). Advancements in medicine from space-based R&D will likely help lead to revolutionary changes in the treatment of cancer, heart disease, muscle and bone loss, neurodegenerative disease, and more. Researchers are using microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. to help incorporate vasculature into bioprinted tissues, laying the foundation to potentially print whole organs in space someday. Scientists have already successfully bioprinted a human meniscus on station and are advancing methods to manufacture artificial retinas in space for patients on Earth.

The ISS National Lab has also enabled studies that could lead to improved crops and agricultural productivity, more effective wildfire management, and higher-efficiency optical fibers for data transmission. Large corporations such as Merck & Co., Colgate-Palmolive, and Procter & Gamble have used space-based R&D to enhance their products for consumers back on Earth. And innovative startups have used the ISS to advance technology for applications like in-space refueling—which is critical to a sustainable LEO economy—and hyperspectral satellites that provide unprecedented global monitoring.

Results from ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations demonstrate the value of space-based research and underscore the national importance of maintaining an R&D platform in LEO beyond the ISS. Private industry has recognized this value and is taking the lead in developing the commercial LEO destinations (CLDs) of the future. Several established private companies are working on next-generation space stations, and multiple startups are developing small free-flyers, both crewed and uncrewed, that will add to the diversity of opportunities to visit, work, and perform research in space—all enabled by the creativity, and innovation of people here on Earth. As CEO of CASIS, I am honored to lead a team that works alongside our NASA counterparts to help transition from the ISS today to the privatized space stations of tomorrow operating in a sustainable LEO economy.

A LEO economy is not about creating trade in space. It’s about adding to Earth’s economy. All the benefits of this investment, research, and innovation are to expand our economy beyond the surface of our planet to benefit humans on Earth. Until now, the largest part of the space economy has been driven by spaceborne satellite services and related technologies, largely for communications applications, followed by global governmental spending. The satellite industry is estimated to contribute close to $300 billion of activity to Earth’s economy. The total LEO economy is projected to expand to the multi-trillion-dollar range, and we are just getting started.

Stepping Stones Into the Future

I believe that, as an industry, taking several important steps today will help us get to the robust LEO economy of tomorrow. Continued leadership and commitment from government will lead to continued leadership and investment from industry. Additionally, the ecosystem would benefit from a comprehensive, long-term roadmap outlining the vision, goals, and milestones for establishing a sustainable LEO economy and providing a framework for further public- and private-sector investments.

The focus on technology and market development has been central to the mission of the ISS National Lab. Building on this work requires continued research and analysis to advance the most promising areas of science and technology development that can benefit from the unique LEO environment. This will ensure resources are directed toward areas with the highest potential for financial return and practical use on Earth. The ISS National Lab also plays a vital role in continuing to facilitate collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors to explore market opportunities and develop business models for promising LEO-based technologies. This involves developing public-private partnerships and working with innovation accelerators and technology incubator programs.

Finally, the work and experience of the ISS National Lab serve as a strong foundation for creating a National Laboratory dedicated to supporting R&D in LEO, both for terrestrial benefit and space exploration. The LEO National Lab would provide infrastructure, equipment, and expertise to advance R&D of national interest and ensure responsible resource allocation through transparent oversight and accountability mechanisms. It would serve as a centralized platform for coordinating with U.S. government agencies, streamlining access to funding and technical expertise across the agencies. A LEO National Lab would also foster private-sector collaboration, facilitating partnerships between academia, industry, and private companies working in LEO.

Although the ISS will eventually be decommissioned as we move to the CLDs of the future, we should not leave the international spirit of the ISS behind. The ISS represents the most significant global collaboration in history, and maintaining international cooperation will be important as we work to build a sustainable LEO economy. Such collaboration would enable shared expertise, resources, and risks and could involve joint research initiatives, technology development partnerships, and agreements on space traffic management.

Public engagement and education are also key. Educating the public about the benefits of a LEO economy and its role in scientific advancement and technological progress is important to build public support and attract new talent to the space industry. We must begin building a strong workforce now to ensure the success of the LEO economy in the future.

In the coming months and years, we will continue refining and prioritizing these steps as we develop a more comprehensive and actionable plan that will lead us to a sustainable LEO economy. Although there is still much to do and many questions to answer, I am optimistic for the future. Humans, by nature, are curious and can solve difficult problems. With the ability to continuously live and work in LEO, we can now leverage the incredible environment that space provides to address challenges we face on Earth. We are no longer constrained to working on our planet—Earth is our home, but we have evolved to become a space-faring society, and space travel is no longer the domain of test pilots. We can look back in another 50 years and reflect on how today’s investments have led to the prosperous LEO economy of tomorrow.