Settlement Enabling Test

Space Frontier Foundation Settlement-Enabling Test
The Space Frontier Foundation is an organization of people dedicated to opening the Space Frontier to human settlement as rapidly as possible. When evaluating a proposed government program, policy or regulation, the Foundation shall apply the following test to assess the extent to which the program, policy, or regulation is Settlement-Enabling. These results will be used to craft an appropriate pro-Settlement response of support or constructive criticism. The Space Frontier Foundation credo informs and influences many of the questions that are a part of the Settlement Enabling Test. It is included here to ensure it informs those who are examining proposed national policy.
Our goals include protecting the Earths fragile biosphere and creating a freer and more prosperous life for each generation by using the unlimited energy and material resources of space. Our purpose is to unleash the power of free enterprise and lead a united humanity permanently into the Solar System.
When the Space Frontier Foundation was first formed, the organization also created the Frontier Enabling Test. The goal of the Frontier Enabling Test was to better articulate plans and ideas that would move humanitys direction in space in a more rewarding, more dynamic, and more profitable way. It is from the Frontier Enabling Test that we derive each question for the SettlementEnabling Test. While not specifically included in the ranking questions section, the Frontier Enabling Test remains a vital part in determining how to better shape space policy.
Our definition of a frontier enabling technology or policy is one which has as its effect the acceleration of the creation of low cost access to the space frontier for private citizens and companies, enables or accelerates our use of space resources, and/or accelerates the rate at which wealth can be generated in space. In other words, is the project or policy going to provide a return on the national investment, if we define return to be the economically sustainable human habitation of space?
Settlement-Enabling Test Questions

All statements are to be rated 1 to 5. Unless otherwise stated, the rankings are 1 Strongly Disagree, 2 Disagree, 3 Neutral, 4 Agree, 5 Strongly Agree. If the Board of Directors agrees beforehand that the question is not applicable to a specific proposal, it is not to be considered in the final score for that proposal. The examples given are only there for understanding purposes. They are not part of the actual question. 1. Societal Values
a. This proposal is consistent with the values of the Space Frontier Foundation believes are necessary for a free and open frontier in space. b. This proposal maintains budget transparency, and therefore supports honest decision making. c. This proposal includes rigorous and independent oversight. d. This proposal has a reasonable implementation plan, budget & schedule so that it is likely to be properly executed.
2. Expanding Human Access to the Frontier
a. This proposal encourages or allows a greater number of nongovernmentally funded people to fly or operate in space. b. This proposal encourages and supports a greater diversity of people who are able to fly or operate in space. c. This proposal enables or encourages more people to increase the longevity of their stay in space.
3. Ensuring the Sustainability of Space Settlement
a. This proposal encourages the use of resources that do not require launching mass from the surface of the Earth. (Example: Using Earths magnetic field for station keeping rather than propellant carried from Earth) b. This proposal uses or makes available the resources of space in a smart, sustainable way. (Example of a failure: the Moon Treaty, which prevents the use of private property) c. This proposal enhances or encourages the re-use and recycling of terrestrial materials carried into space.
(Example: re-cycling upper stages or external tanks for fuel depots or habitats) d. This proposal maintains or increases the usability of the space environment. (Example: debris clouds created by an anti-satellite testing program drastically increases the need for micro-meteor shielding to the point that spacecraft become prohibitively expensive.)
4. Creating a Pro-Settlement Policy/Legal/Regulatory Environment in Space

a. This proposal develops a regulatory environment that fosters settlement, utilization, and/or commercialization. (Example: property rights related to Moon, Mars, asteroids, etc. so that private enterprise can operate effectively, and make use extracted resources, etc)
5. Creating value/profit from the supports/catalyzes settlement
space
environment
that
a. This proposal encourages the creation of items (goods and services) of value that derive most of their value from space. (Example: communication satellites need the high altitude of space to be valuable. Without this, the satellite isnt worth anything.) b. This proposal encourages additional investment of time, money or talent into frontier-enabling activities as defined in this document.
6. Developing Space Capabilities
a. This proposal identifies and prioritizes key strategic space capabilities (not technologies) which directly enable, enhance, or accelerate space settlement in a broad, inclusive manner. (Example: a review panel identifying what capabilities we would like to develop in 10 years e.g. National Research Council decadal surveys or the Review of Human Spaceflight Plans Committee) b. This proposal includes in its implementation plan a viable path for an idea to emerge as a commercial product or service that delivers a key strategic capability. (Examples: The same needed capabilities [or technologies] have existed on NASA/Department of Defense charts for decades. Many have been partially developed or proven on the ground repeatedly without achieving formal flight status and ultimately commercial availability.) c. This proposal makes full use of existing or planned commercial capabilities (i.e. goods and/or services) to achieve one or more strategic space capabilities.
d. This proposal (if implemented) would sustainably achieve the desired strategic capability. (Example: While the International Space Station (ISS) was under construction, NASA decided to decommission ISS 5 years after completion. It is underutilized because of excessive paperwork requirements, the prioritization of development over utilization, and inadequate access.) e. The proposal creates no governmental hardware that harmfully competes with private sector approaches in meeting a desired strategic capability. (Examples: Ares original plan competed with commercial alternatives; some plans for ISS re-use would place it in competition with commercial facilities.) f. The proposal creates government furnished hardware in a way that it can be adapted for commercial use once the strategic capability is achieved. (Examples: Can ISS be re-cycled, and turned over to a nongovernment entity? Can a proposed Lunar facility designed to train for Mars exploration be handed over to commercial use after NASA has finished with it?) 7.
Return on Investment
a. This proposal provides a good return on investment to taxpayers in terms of enabling space settlement.

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Space Frontier Foundation Settlement-Enabling Test

Settlement-Enabling Test Questions

2. Expanding Human Access to the Frontier

3. Ensuring the Sustainability of Space Settlement

4. Creating a Pro-Settlement Policy/Legal/Regulatory Environment in Space

5. Creating value/profit from the supports/catalyzes settlement

6. Developing Space Capabilities

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