Transatlantic collaboration in space science
A new report entitled "US-European collaboration in space science" has recently been published. The report, based on an analysis of 13 case studies carried out over a period of 30 years, sets out basic principles to be followed in seeking to develop cooperative space missions. The report was written by a joint committee set up by the European Space Science Committee of the European Science Foundation (ESF) and the Space Studies Board (SSB) of the US National Research Council. The report includes a set of template agreements which provide a step-by-step guide, from the planning stage, through implementation, to the final review of a cooperative space mission. The key recommendations of the report include: - Establishment of clear scientific goals and rationale; - Shared objectives with all those involved in the mission; - Independent periodic assessments; - Milestone and implementation agreements. Other recommendations cover the need for having clearly defined responsibilities, effective measures to ensure the free and open exchange of data and the need for space agencies to advise science ministers on the implications that particular national trade, export-import, data and intellectual property policies may have on important cooperative space programmes.