A framework for evaluating international cooperation in space exploration

Abstract Today's spacefaring nations lack a systematic framework for evaluating international cooperation proposals that takes both political and technical concerns into account. By simultaneously considering technology and policy, a more informed decision may be made about how best to cooperate. An original framework is set forth for identifying and evaluating different cooperative schemes for their impact on technical and political concerns. The strength of this framework is then illustrated using a case study of US and Italian cooperation.