SOCIETAL ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW Charles E. Bloomquist PRC Systems Sciences Company The decision to proceed with SPS will depend on a political determination that commitment of the economic, institutional, and social energies required for its implementation is a worthwhile investment. This determination will be national (and international) in scope and will be based on knowledge of the environmental and societal impacts of the SPS, its projected economics and technological risks, expressed through the influence of contending segments of society. To assist the decision makers, an assessment of societal issues associated with the SPS has been undertaken as part of the Concept Development and Evaluation Program. Results of the assessment are reported here. The primary societal assessment objectives are: (1) to determine if the societal ramifications of an SPS might significantly impede its development, and (2) to establish an information base regarding these issues. The approach taken to meet these objectives is oriented to serve the needs of the decision makers. That is, the studies conducted are not intended to be exhaustive treatments of the issues addressed; rather, they are to provide estimates regarding SPS impacts commensurate with its stage of development and the needs of the decision makers. The four major areas of the societal assessment are: Resources, Institutional Issues, International Implications, and Public Concerns. The rationale for dividing the assessment into these categories is somewhat as follows. Societal issues are created by the interplay between the SPS and its external environment. Those components of the external environment which clearly exert control or influence over SPS and those which are most directly impacted by SPS were given primary considerations. The SPS requires large inputs of resources, the allocation of which depends on various decision making bodies or institutions. Other institutional mechanisms are required to manage program activities and control interfaces between the SPS and its external environment. International bodies would exert control over SPS because of financial interest, its space-based nature, and the need for agreements to allocate radio frequencies and orbital slots and to set microwave exposure standards. Because of its global significance, the SPS would, in turn, influence international relations. Public concerns over potential social change resulting from the magnitude of the program and the interplay of environmental institutional and international mechanisms is one of the most important components of the external environment. Having defined the general areas of concern, a two-phase study process was implemented. Key issues in each area were defined and a preliminary assessment was conducted. On the basis of the results, a final assessment was undertaken to pursue the preliminary studies further, where indicated, or to undertake new initiatives which seemed to be indicated. The end result of this process is over two dozen issue-related study reports in addition to a preliminary and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==