We can also seek to reduce pollution on Earth with such developments. While the direct export of industrial activities from Earth into space is not likely to be an early solution, due to high transportation costs, we can establish human environments on other planets to illustrate the practicality of free enterprise solutions for problems such as pollution. Ultimately, these models will be the basis for changing methodologies on Earth. Vast undeveloped territories on Earth, such as the surface of the oceans or the desert regions, may become useful as locations for power receiving stations for radio-transmitted power from space. The production of solar power satellites may offer an opportunity for developing nations to dramatically increase their power availability without increasing nuclear proliferation or air pollution.
Space also offers a unique opportunity to examine the Earth from a very different perspective.
The ability to see the Earth from space has already helped identify sources of pollution, new resource opportunities, and has allowed us to better understand many environmental systems. Again, the free enterprise approach should dramatically reduce costs for weather satellites, remote sensing spacecraft, and the services these mechanisms provide.