DOI: 10.1177/21680256261476888 ISSN: 2168-0256

An Integrated Network for Commercial Spaceports: A Unified Vision for Global Space Access

Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba

The increasing volume and diversity of space activities, from satellite constellations and space tourism to lunar exploration and beyond, demand a coordinated approach to commercial spaceport development on Earth. The primary purpose of this article is to examine the potential creation of an Integrated Network for Commercial Spaceports (INCS), a global framework designed to unify the operations, standards, and resources of commercial spaceports worldwide, thereby meeting the growing demands of the space sector while fostering sustainability in spaceport development and utilization. The INCS would provide a voluntary, nonregulatory, consensus-driven collaborative platform where commercial spaceports share interoperable standards, logistics protocols, and digital tools to meet the growing demands of the space industry. This framework operates under centralized oversight with decentralized implementation, fostering seamless operations and equitable access to space without supplanting national sovereignty or existing international bodies. This article examines the potential challenges of establishing the INCS, including regulatory alignment, technological, and economic hurdles, and emphasizes the need for international collaboration and alignment with existing space governance frameworks. While the INCS framework is currently conceptual, this article outlines a phased validation pathway, acknowledges implementation limitations, and proposes measurable key performance indicators to guide future empirical testing and stakeholder adoption. The article also addresses cybersecurity architecture and data sovereignty requirements for the INCS digital infrastructure, identifying orbital debris mitigation as an operational sustainability dimension within the network’s scope.

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