Sustainable Solutions in the Space Sector: Factors Determining the Perception of the Opportunity Landscape by Key Players in the Space Industry

In essence, the problem of orbital pollution is a tragedy of commons. Space does not belong to anyone, thus, there is a tendency to exploit it excessively without accountability for mitigating the resulting consequences. While sustainable space solutions hold promise for collective benefit, the question persists: how to ensure that sustainable technologies and practices gain widespread adoption? And in order to answer this question, one needs to build a better understanding of sustainable space technologies’ perception by industry players. The paper investigates the factors shaping the market acceptance of sustainable space technologies, building on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). An introduction of a new factor ‘remoteness of effects’, with its spatial and temporal facets, is suggested. The study finds that closer, immediate benefits enhance perceived usefulness and, consequently, adoption likelihood, with temporal remoteness being more critical. The factor of”voluntariness” is analyzed through the lens of the Locus of Control Theory, concluding that space companies predominantly exhibit an external locus of control, which indicates that these companies feel compelled to adopt sustainable practices primarily due to external pressures, such as regulations and direct risks to their business operations, rather than from an internal commitment to sustainability. Data was gathered through three rounds of semi-structured interviews: non-space industry experts provided broad insights, space industry experts added depth, and academics offered contrasting perspectives.