Supply Chain Sustainability in Outer Space: Lessons to Be Learnt from Remote Sites on Earth
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(Published version)
Date
2024
Authors
Varon Hoyos, M.
Hessel, V.
Salas, E.
Culton, J.
Robertson, K.
Laybourn, A.
Escribà-Gelonch, M.
Cook, N.
de Zwart, M.
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Processes, 2024; 12(10):2105-1-2105-36
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Manuel Varon Hoyos, Volker Hessel, Eduardo Salas, John Culton, Karen Robertson, Andrea Laybourn, Marc Escribà-Gelonch, Nigel Cook, and Melissa de Zwart
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Abstract
Space exploration, with its enormous distances and extreme environments, is a challenge to technology, human habitation, sustainability, and supply chains. On the flip-side, however, it can provide a new vantage point on how to improve human life and planetary prosperity. This objective requires the development of economic and sustainable supply chains and a governance framework to guarantee fundamental human needs and well-being under the limitations of distant and inhospitable environments. This review describes learnings for human habitation in space from remote communities on Earth that have developed and survived over generations. These include a long history of human survival strategies on Tristan da Cunha, Pitcairn Islands, Nauru, and Easter Island. Their supply chain management solutions and their problems can guide the implementation of logistics systems for the efficient use of resources in space, to satisfy vital needs of human survival but also to ensure social and governance in space, e.g., build-up of thriving communities, mobility, and industrial activities. This review demonstrates that there are significant gaps in recent space supply chain studies with respect to the space environment, social and governance. Analysis of established practices and concepts from remote regions on Earth can readily respond to these deficiencies and thus supplement space exploration. This review recommends extending the assessment of supplychain assets from the near future to long-term strategic. This implies going far beyond current space supply chain reports to include aspects of social responsibility and governance, such as sustainable health systems, product quality management, and local decision-making.
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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).