International Collaboration in Space Logistics: Key to Unlocking Efficient and Sustainable Space Exploration

“Space: the final frontier”. Those words are familiar to us who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, listening to our parents watch Star Trek: Next Generation. Three or four decades, it was a fantasy, but technology moves fast and the world moves even faster. Here we are in almost 2025 and people are flying into space with much greater frequency than could have been imagined at the beginning of the 21st century, and frankly, it appears that we are still at the infancy of space travel, and a big part of that is the logistical hurdles of the trips. 

Rockets are extremely heavy and it takes huge amounts of energy and effort just to get into space, so there is limited space and payload capacity for extended efforts in outer space. This is where space logistics enters the equation. The only way to go from close orbit to real space exploration is through the development of a space logistics system that allows travelers to resupply and repair as necessary both after departure from earth and eventually, along the way. 

Let’s take a walk through the space industry, current space systems, and how to support deep space logistics in outer space through space command systems. 

Space Logistics: No Far-off Utopia 

The first satellite to land on earth circled our planet in 1957. A decade later, the first human-manned space station arrived. Amongst those was an expedition on the moon. Since the start, the material must travel through the land and into orbit. The initial project during the Cold War was confined to a small number and remained secret. The next decade of the twentieth century witnessed a steady growing number of satellite communications networks and meteorological and observational satellites.

But early space exploration was extremely costly. It’s not what you would call cheap now, but for example, during the space shuttle era, the estimated cost to haul materials into space was about $10,000 per pound. No, that’s not an error. And by some estimations, the space shuttle program was substantially less costly than commercial rocket alternatives. Some of the commercial competitors were anywhere from $27,000 per pound to over $43,000 per pound! 

These costs make it hard to fathom deep space exploration, because it will require thousands of tons of materials to make space transportation beyond orbit a reality. But here’s the thing: right now these are issues to be worked out, and with every advancement in technology comes a reduction in cost. Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, has publicly stated that his goal is to bring the cost down to about $1,000 per pound to get into space. The previously linked article had SpaceX at about $27,000 per pound, but that was in 2016; the private sector rapidly advances and it is not hindered by nearly so much red tape as the public sector (i.e., NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)). 

The Importance of International Cooperation in Space Exploration

Space exploration is a global goal. Every developed and developing nation on earth has some vested interest in space travel. The space industry is a huge global business, with an estimated global value of about $630 billion in 2023. While half a trillion is impressive, the industry is anticipated to value at $1.8 trillion by 2035. Just a decade from now, the industry is expected to triple in value. 

Space logistics has been a global effort for decades; just look at the International Space Station. It was the culmination of efforts from NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada). Space systems command falls on NASA for the ISS, but it has been a mainstay of space exploration for decades now. 

But the ISS is the past. Space logistics, especially deep space logistics, in the international community, are the key to the future of space exploration. 

Current State of Space Logistics and Industry

The space industry is in a state of rapid growth. Satellites, space probes, and stations orbiting Earth are at all time highs. Space logistics remains a niche market, but as we talked about in the previous paragraph, the surface of deep space travel is only beginning to be understood and the industry is poised for explosive growth. 

The demand for logistics services in space is growing, driven by the need for reliable and efficient transportation of materials and goods to space. Also, the inexpensive (relatively speaking) and safe transportation of people to and from outer space. 

Space travel and exploration was once strictly a game played by the governments of the world, proving which world power would take reigns as the space exploration grand champion. But now, public efforts at space travel and deep space exploration are being eclipsed by private sector partners and collaborators, notably SpaceX and DHL.

What we will most likely see are further expanded private sector contractors expanding the technology and otherwise doing the work to build and promote logistical services in space. 

Benefits and Challenges of International Collaboration

First, let’s talk about challenges. The two major powers in space exploration have always been the United States and Russia. We were Cold War enemies and rather than lob nuclear weapons at each other, we instead raced into outer space. The major milestone that settled matters was lunar landings. After we landed on the moon, the race was more or less over. No human has traveled beyond the moon, so space exploration and study has been strictly probes and satellites beyond the moon. However, we have been long-standing partners with Russia in space for decades now as seen in the ISS. 

But the biggest problem with international partnerships is when global geopolitics go south. The U.S. is most decidedly in the camp of Ukraine in the current war, which more or less makes us the enemy of Russia, an observation that is supported by embargoes and blockades. 

This is problematic when it comes to long-term partnerships. And it goes beyond just being a problem for governments; private sector companies routinely partner with nations all over the world. When those countries are under economic sanctions, it means the private party partnerships are effectively severed. 

This is an example of the worst case scenario, but it is also one that is playing out in real time. Joint projects can be like this, and it is one of the risks when private companies do business abroad. The other challenges are much lower-level. They are things like language barriers, regulatory barriers, and cultural differences. 

Key Players and Partnerships in Space Logistics

So, who are the key players and partners in space logistics?

This is going to be a mix of both multinational governmental agencies and non-governmental agencies from across the globe. 

Key players in space logistics include NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman (with its SpaceLogistics subsidiary), Axiom Space, and international space agencies like the European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), with significant partnerships forming between these entities for missions like the Artemis program and the International Space Station (ISS) development and operation; notably, NASA collaborates closely with private companies like SpaceX for launch services and in-space infrastructure development, while Northrop Grumman provides satellite servicing capabilities through its SpaceLogistics division.

All of these agencies play different key parts in the equation, bringing different space systems to the table. It will be a mix of private resources (Blue Origin, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, and Axiom Space), and international space agencies to shoulder the load. The next few decades will shape what deep space exploration looks like for many decades to come. 

Overcoming Challenges and Ensuring Cooperation

Space logistics is going to be challenging; that’s the nature of space exploration. It is a challenge. 

But the biggest point of contention will be ensuring the load of logistics are evenly or appropriately distributed. Launch costs are far too high to waste them, nor should one or two agencies end up shouldering the whole load. 

And this is the measure that has to be taken throughout the entire planning stage of the process: how do we ensure an equitable split in responsibility with other nations to build supply chains in space? There are critical role after critical role to fill in the most cost effective manner and innovation must be on point for this to work. 

And even then, such partnerships will still require a lot of effort to maintain with the cohesiveness that will be required for logistics services in space. There are no secondary backups here or anything like that; no supply dumps that can be quickly assimilated. As the saying goes, “there is no plan B.”  

Future of Space Logistics and Exploration

So, we have talked a lot about who the key players will be, and how they will work together on this great effort, but what is the way ahead?

The future is very bright for space logistics. The stated goal of major players like Elon Musk is in providing space transportation for common people, and ultimately colonizing Mars and the Moon. This is a far cry from placing communications satellites in orbit. But without a supply chain set up for space, this concept never gets off the ground. The supply chain has to be strong but also adaptable and cost effective. 

Again, cost effectiveness is a relative concept with space exploration. Even if SpaceX is able to get the cost down to $1,000 per pound, establishing a space station for logistics and supplies will take hundreds of tons of materials, maybe more. 

The future of space exploration including deep space is fascinating in its own rite. Potential mining operations on asteroids, all facilitated by advancements in reusable rockets, on-orbit refueling, and advanced propulsion systems are all of the calling cards of exploring deep space and frankly, we don’t even know at this moment what kinds of discoveries we will find. What kinds of materials and minerals could we find and mine on asteroids? All of these are relative unknowns, as are the technologies that we will use for deeper exploration. 

International partners are such an important part of this whole space systems process because they provide a scientific balance. What may be a blind spot for our teams may be exactly what a partnering country has as a strength. Deep space logistics are the cornerstone of exploration and it will rely on outposts along the way, similar to the International Space Station although certainly repurposed or reimagined for deep space logistics.  

What Is An Example Of International Collaboration In Space?

The best example of international space collaboration is the International Space Station. In continuous service since 2000, the ISS has never been used for anything in deep space as it is only 250 miles from the Earth’s surface on average. The International Space Station is an orbiting laboratory that has traditionally been used to conduct experiments in biology, physics, and also material sciences which aren’t possible in Earth’s gravity. 

Obviously, this is not the model for a deep space logistics station, but it is proof positive that a space station can remain in space for a quarter century, sponsored and operated by international partners. 

The International Space Station is not the only joint mission to ever exist; there have been quite a few over the years. 

1. Artemis Program

Artemis is a well known program led by NASA and its goal is to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there. Artemis is international in scope and includes collaboration from space agencies that include the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

ESA contributes the European Service Module for the Orion Spacecraft, CSA has built the robotic arms for the Gateway, and Japan is involved mostly in the logistics and cargo transportation, which makes them poised to take an active role in future space logistics. 

2. Mars Exploration

Mars exploration has been a global initiative for decades now with NASA and ESA working in concert for the Mars Sample Return mission. The stated goal of this is to retrieve samples from Mars that were taken by one of NASA’s Mars rovers. ESA provided a rover for the retrieval along with a launch vehicle for the return leg.

Also, NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have worked together for the Mars orbiter mission. 

3. ExoMars

Finally, we have the ExoMars program, a collaboration between ESA and Roscosmos (the Russian space agency) to explore Mars. Noticing a theme yet? Mars exploration is one of the first legs of any deep space mission, and a natural place to colonize. Not that it will necessarily be ideal for a quick stop-off since you would have to worry about launching back into space, but that is probably where the reusable rockets come into play. However, there will most definitely be supply dumps along the way, albeit quite a bit more sophisticated that what we see here on Earth. 

Anyway, ExoMars used the Trace Gas Orbiter which was launched in 2016 to study the atmosphere, and another Mars rover which will again search for signs of life on Mars. 

This is no comprehensive list of international space collaborations, but it is certainly a good sampling of what is possible and what has already been done. 

Does NASA Collaborate With Other Countries?

In a nutshell, yes. We don’t have to get into it because it’s already been covered extensively in the article, but NASA routinely collaborates with other countries. And it is a lot more extensive than you might know; NASA manages over 750 agreements with some 125 countries. This allows NASA to share costs, gain expertise, and partner for scientific research. This is an all around win that helps NASA achieve its overarching goals of scientific discovery and ultimately human exploration of deep space. 

Conclusion and Recommendations

Space exploration is far too complex and involved for a single nation to do it alone, especially when it comes to space logistics. International partners are critical for space logistics to help not only share the financial burden, but to bring other ideas and research to the table. 

It is in our best interests to work with the most reliable agencies across the globe that have similar interests and goals with space study, and ultimately deep space colonization. Logistics has been and will be the cornerstone of space colonization, and it will have to transition from just resupply to supplying the materials for manufacturing and production at some point.