Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • May 2021
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

The International Space Station, Principal-Agent Problems, and NASA's Quest to Keep Humans in Space

By: Matthew Weinzierl and Mehak Sarang
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:22
ShareBar

Abstract

In building the International Space Station (ISS), NASA opened the door to the development of a robust in-space economy in low-Earth Orbit, and yet the decision to build the station, and continue to extend its lifetime, placed a huge burden on NASA’s Human Spaceflight budget. Should NASA continue to invest in the ISS? Or is it possible for the agency to facilitate the commercialization of the Station and move beyond low-Earth Orbit?

Keywords

Aerospace; Nasa; Space Economy; Principal-agent Theory; Policy; Commercialization; Aerospace Industry

Citation

Weinzierl, Matthew, and Mehak Sarang. "The International Space Station, Principal-Agent Problems, and NASA's Quest to Keep Humans in Space." Harvard Business School Case 721-054, May 2021.
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Matthew C. Weinzierl

Business, Government and the International Economy
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • November–December 2022
    • Harvard Business Review

    Your Company Needs a Space Strategy. Now.

    By: Matthew Weinzierl, Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury, Tarun Khanna, Alan MacCormack and Brendan Rosseau
    • October 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Spaceport America, Public Sector Risk-Taking, and Political Accountability (B)

    By: Matthew Weinzierl, Dava Newman, Rebecca Browder and Angela Acocella
    • October 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Spaceport America, Public Sector Risk-taking, and Political Accountability (A)

    By: Matthew Weinzierl, Dava Newman, Rebecca Browder and Angela Acocella
More from the Authors
  • Your Company Needs a Space Strategy. Now. By: Matthew Weinzierl, Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury, Tarun Khanna, Alan MacCormack and Brendan Rosseau
  • Spaceport America, Public Sector Risk-Taking, and Political Accountability (B) By: Matthew Weinzierl, Dava Newman, Rebecca Browder and Angela Acocella
  • Spaceport America, Public Sector Risk-taking, and Political Accountability (A) By: Matthew Weinzierl, Dava Newman, Rebecca Browder and Angela Acocella
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College