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Article

An Examination of the Complexity of the Large Sociotechnical Space System

by
Francisco Del Canto Viterale
Department of Space Studies, John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
Aerospace 2025, 12(6), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060491
Submission received: 31 March 2025 / Revised: 21 May 2025 / Accepted: 28 May 2025 / Published: 29 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Space System Design)

Abstract

Complexity has emerged as a global phenomenon with significant implications for the organization and structure of any system. In recent decades, the space system has undergone a transition to a more complex configuration. This essay argues that the increasing complexity of space system architecture is attributable to the proliferation and diversification of actors, interactions, processes, trends, and topics that demand novel examinations and explanations. This research emphasizes the necessity of employing systems and social science methodologies to evaluate and provide novel perspectives on the study of complex systems, such as the space system. The primary objective of this study is to examine the complex structure of the current space system using a sociotechnical systems model. The present study offers a comprehensive examination of the contemporary space system, emphasizing the role of contextual elements, active agents, forms of interaction, and the diverse applications and emergent trends that are profoundly influencing not only the space system itself but also the broader international system.
Keywords: aerospace; space system; space system design; complex systems; international system; systems sciences; social sciences; interdisciplinary approach aerospace; space system; space system design; complex systems; international system; systems sciences; social sciences; interdisciplinary approach

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Del Canto Viterale, F. An Examination of the Complexity of the Large Sociotechnical Space System. Aerospace 2025, 12, 491. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060491

AMA Style

Del Canto Viterale F. An Examination of the Complexity of the Large Sociotechnical Space System. Aerospace. 2025; 12(6):491. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060491

Chicago/Turabian Style

Del Canto Viterale, Francisco. 2025. "An Examination of the Complexity of the Large Sociotechnical Space System" Aerospace 12, no. 6: 491. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060491

APA Style

Del Canto Viterale, F. (2025). An Examination of the Complexity of the Large Sociotechnical Space System. Aerospace, 12(6), 491. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060491

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