Seeds and Stars - Building Infrastructure for Sustainability with the World´s First In-Space Science Park

Outer space and the challenges of human space exploration provide a unique scientific environment for conducting research to benefit life on Earth. Since its construction began twenty-one years ago, the International Space Station (ISS) has been a unique example of intergovernmental cooperation in the pursuit of science – thousands of experiments from dozens of countries have taken place onboard, from plant growth to quantum computing. However, access to the ISS is still restricted, whether by space agency rule, government regulation, or the technical and financial barriers of spaceflight. Several companies are attempting to build in-space infrastructure which can augment the scientific capabilities of ISS today or provide access to space once it is decommissioned within the next decade. This paper examines the importance of space as an area of innovation for environmental sustainability and explores the possibilities of using the Science and Technology Park (STP) model for managing it.