Iceland in Space: The past and future of space exploration in Iceland

This paper pursues what is being done in Iceland in the way of space exploration and traces the history and connection Iceland has in relation to past space exploration, from being training grounds for the first NASA astronauts in the 1960s, to serving as Mars Analog in the 21 century. It also pursues its potential and the arguments that are made for it to be a full participant in the European Space Agency (ESA) and traces the course of its application to do so. Finally three potential future scenarios are assessed. i) The status quo, i.e. continued lack of governmental engagement and non-membership of Iceland of ESA. ii) a full membership of ESA, enhancing current activities, and adding some new ones, without a specific emphasis on it on behalf of the government, and iii) an ambitious space program led and supported by the government, focusing on making space research and exploration a priority within the Icelandic scientific community, building on Iceland’s strengths in that respect.