Exploring the Effects of International Traffic in Arms Regulations Restrictions on Innovation in the U.S. Space Industrial Base

<p>The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are used to protect United States (U.S.) military technologies. However changes to ITAR export controls regarding space technologies have had a major impact to the U.S. space industry. The literature mentions a concern for the health of lower-tier firms because they are a major source of innovation but there is no additional information considering the effects of ITAR on space innovation at those lower tiers. The purpose of this thesis was to explore the implications of continuing the current ITAR restrictions with regard to innovation in the space industry. This research used a three-part approach: Part I used personal interviews to explore perceptions from the space enterprise. Part II was a secondary analysis of previously collected data. Part III compared the results of Parts I and II to assess the relationship between ITAR and innovation in the space industry.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>