Reliable space rescue is a prerequisite for continued economic opportunity in space and we have a long way to go

Space rescue is a prerequisite for the continued growth of the space economy, particularly with a growing number of non-government missions and ambitions to fly crews outside of low Earth orbit (LEO). Future missions and habitations on the moon or Mars will inevitably encounter medical emergencies, equipment failures, resupply failures and a host of issues for which pre-planning is difficult. And the ability to reliably launch an on-demand space rescue effort is years, possibly decades away. The complexities of international, civil, military and commercial space flight create a web of stakeholders, decision makers, economic interests and international legal questions that make space rescue much more than an exercise in engineering.