Space Industry Seen Facing Delayed Econ Crisis | AVIATION WEEK

By Frank Morring, Jr., Aviation Week, Posted 10/15/09

Link: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/Crisis101409.xml&hea...

"Government customers and long-lead planning has protected the global space industry from the worst effects of the ongoing economic crisis, but industry and government representatives at the International Astronautical Congress here worry there may be a downturn in a few years." A recovery could cause governments to "begin to balance their books again" to reduce their debt that accumulated to stem the crisis. A panel "that included both industry executives from Europe and Asia" noted "it will be important for the space industry to increase efficiency to deal with flat or falling government space budgets. That can be done in two major ways - reducing duplication inside companies by trimming staff, and reducing duplication across the industry with greater international cooperation." It also could be done by "finding terrestrial applications for space technologies." [summary provided by AIAA Daily Launch]