would not be concerned about salvage of SPS satellites unless an SPS program is indeed implemented. Furthermore the presence of an SPS program infers, in itself, the successful development of a number of space-based technologies that should lead to widely expanding use of space by the private sector. The transition from federal funding to private sector funding for space activities is already evident with communications and information satellite programs, and the acceleration of these trends due to improved space transportation technologies is clearly forthcoming. The successful implementation of an SPS program assures that highly advanced technologies in low cost space transportation including both earth to LEO and LEO to GEO will have been successfully developed. In addition, technologies for the construction and deployment of large-scale space structures, long duration manned facilities and low cost solar cells are assured. These technologies will be available by about the year 2000, or at the time of implementation of the SPS system, and will thus contribute to the economic development of space in the intervening period (2000 to 2030). At the present time the private sector is making significant strides forward in space-based activities with a focus on communications and data gathering. Present communications activities in the private sector include not only COMSAT (a quasi-private sector organization) but a number of U.S. corporations such as Western Electric, RCA, IBM and so on. These activities should begin to mature around the year 2000 with the implementation of large communications platforms in geosynchronous orbit. Both these and lower altitude platforms will also probably be implemented by the private sector for data collection. The data collection systems will include both natural resources and environment monitoring such as the LANDSAT and SEASAT satellites have done to date. It is conceivable that the communications industry alone could grow to a level of expenditure of between
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