The Value of Space-based R&D

July 12, 2018 • By Amy Elkavich, Staff Writer

According to a recent Pew Research Center study, the vast majority of Americans believe that “the space station has been a good investment for the country.” The study, released in early June, confirmed that 80% of Americans see the inherent value in International Space Station (ISS) efforts. That value springs in part from the research and development (R&D) endeavors of the ISS U.S. National Laboratory.

In addition, almost half of American surveyed believe there is value in basic scientific research on station, with many Americans hoping to benefit from space technologies that might address or improve how we monitor the Earth’s climate or gather natural resources and raw materials to use here at home.

Building a Value Assessment Framework

The ISSInternational Space Station National Lab seeks to maximize utilization of in-orbit resources and promote the value of ISS activities to life on Earth. To support these efforts, the ISS National Lab developed a methodology to assess the value created through the projects in its portfolio.

With the help of Navigant, a consulting company that specializes in identifying, creating, and managing value in businesses of all kinds, the ISS National Lab embarked on an initiative to better understand and characterize the value and impact of its research portfolio using the methodology. What does that mean? It means that the ISS National Lab wants to make sure it’s selecting projects and programs that are delivering value to U.S. taxpayers—value that translates into tangible improvements for humankind and our planet.

The value assessment framework serves as a tool that helps the ISS National Lab measure projected and actual value and impact across the entire ISS National Lab portfolio. This most recent Pew study is undoubtedly relevant in light of the ISS National Lab value assessment efforts and mission, which includes creating value through ISS activities and informing the public of that value.

Specifically, the methodology adopted by the ISS National Lab is based on best practice analogs from industry, government research agencies, and other national laboratories and is applied to the R&D projects carried out on the ISS National Lab.

The ISS National Lab began this effort by surveying the project investigators and companies that have already conducted research on the ISS. The information received was then used to score each project, using the assessment framework that quantifies both the value and the feasibility of projects. A panel of subject matter experts volunteered their time and expertise to complete this assessment.

To date, the following is the projected value of these projects (conducted on approximately 85% of the portfolio), validated by the project sponsors and external experts:

• Incremental revenue of more than $900 million tied to ISS National Lab projects
• A total addressable market of more than $110 billion—in other words, this is the opportunity for future revenue, based on current market size and trends, of the full portfolio activities both
• An accelerated time to market of approximately 1.5 years (i.e., products hitting the shelves!)
• Thousands of new direct and indirect jobs
• 25+ new solution pathways (a measure of innovation that can lead to a major advance in knowledge or new intellectual property)

Moreover, the ISS National Lab-selected R&D portfolio leverages more than $140 million in non-NASA, non-ISS National Lab funding—so others appreciate and are investing in the success of ISS National Lab-selected R&D!

What’s Next for Assessing the Value of ISS Projects?

Every project selected to utilize the unique aspects of the ISS National Lab—such as 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., a unique vantage point 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., and extreme conditions—is chosen because of its potential value to humankind and the U.S. taxpayer. Investigations in low Earth orbit present researchers, educators, and businesses with countless opportunities to learn more about diseases and test new medical treatments, expand scientific knowledge and advance new technologies, and, ultimately, improve human lives. Value assessments continue even after a project is complete: you never know when results from ISS activities will lead to a breakthrough!

The assessment framework has developed into an effective tool for not only explaining the above value to the U.S. taxpayer but also as a method for optimizing portfolio expansion. The ISS National Lab has successfully facilitated more than 200 research experiments to date; each awarded the opportunity to take advantage of a one-of-a-kind laboratory environment orbiting 240 miles above Earth, and the ISS National Lab continues to award dozens of new projects each year—now all vetted using the new value assessment.

With the release of the Pew study, it’s clear that Americans believe ISS National Lab activities are on the right track when it comes to creating value, and the ISS National Lab continues to advance projects and programs that benefit life on Earth. Learn about the multiple ISS National Lab projects that recently launched on the SpaceX CRS-15 mission!