National Space Technology Capability Base Index

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis examining the relative space technology capability levels of selected established and emergent space nations. The Space Technology Capability Base Index compares space-faring nations on the basis of their demonstrated achievements in space technology. The Index aims to assess the technological aspects of a country's space competitiveness through an examination of the relative space technology capability levels of the 10 nations included in Futron’s 2010 Space Competitiveness Index. The Space Technology Capability Base Index (“The Index”) is based upon two central questions: 1) What are the key technologies which enable a country to explore and exploit the space environment? 2) Which countries demonstrate the most competitive national space technology enterprise? Analysis of these questions results in the first of its kind Space Technology Capability Base Index. The methodology of the Index is based upon a set of internationally comparable metrics, both qualitative and quantitative in nature. Metrics are indentified under three broad categorizations: Government, Human Capital and Industry, covering:  Government Investment in Space Technology (40% of the overall model): The existence and stable investment in technical research and development of technologies needed to perform basic and advanced space activities.  Human Capital Space Technology Base (20% of the overall model): Evidence of skilled professionals able to sustain both a base of space technological achievement and the development of newer and more advanced technologies for space activity.  Industrial Space Technology Base (40% of the overall model): Evaluation of the industrial base and status of existing technologies supporting key space functions: manufacturing, exploration, Precision, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services ommunications, remote sensing, and launch abilities. The Index is constructed using a model in which each metric is valued at 100 points prior to weighting its value within the complete set of metrics. Therefore a country that leads a given metric receives a rating of 100 points and each country that follows receives a pro-rated score based on its ranking relative to the leader. The value assigned to individual metrics are in turn weighted and aggregated within their area of categorization (Government, Human Capital and Industry). A complete list of indicators and their weights are included in the Appendix. The Index also includes The Space Technology Achievement Component, a unique metric developed for this study, which contributes to all three portions (Government, Human Capital and Industry) of the model. This Component ranks countries’ indigenous technology achievements and capacity across the full range of space activities. The Space Technology Achievement Component, as a major contributor to the overall model, identifies key space related technologies utilized by the ranked countries and assesses the relative ability of countries to deploy and leverage those technologies as a contribution to the overall competitiveness of a national space sector.