Impact of the dual use concept along the value chain of major space applications

Abstract Government support, in the form of publicly-funded R&D and block purchases of satellites or launch vehicles by space agencies, plays a critical role in structuring commercial markets for space applications such as telecommunications and Earth observation. This paper provides a comparative analysis of the different support mechanisms which benefit the space industries of the United States, Western Europe, Japan and other countries, discusses their effects on commercial competition, and quantifies the levels of support and their economic effects.