--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ISS operates as the 'anchor customer'…" description: "\"The ISS operates as the 'anchor customer' in low earth orbit to support new commercial space services, including delivery of cargo and, before long, cr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/ellen-ochoa-21005_earth_the-iss-operates-as-the-anchor-customer_1170247.jpg" --- # The ISS operates as the 'anchor customer' in low earth… ![“The ISS operates as the 'anchor customer' in low earth orbit to support new commercial space services, including delivery of cargo and, before long, crew transportation services.” quote by Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/ellen-ochoa-21005_earth_the-iss-operates-as-the-anchor-customer_1170247.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/ellen-ochoa-21005_earth_the-iss-operates-as-the-anchor-customer_1170247.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/ellen-ochoa-21005_earth_the-iss-operates-as-the-anchor-customer_1170247.jpg) > “The ISS operates as the 'anchor customer' in low earth orbit to support new commercial space services, including delivery of cargo and, before long, crew transportation services.” [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ISS serves as a stable platform that attracts and enables private companies to develop and launch new space capabilities. **In simple terms:** The ISS helps private space firms grow. Key Takeaway Leverage existing infrastructure for new ventures. Themes space collaboration innovation commercialization Mood optimistic strategic Type policy industry. When to use this quote - cargo delivery - crew transport - satellite servicing - research experiments Key Concepts low earth orbit anchor customer public‑private partnership Questions to Reflect On - How can emerging firms reduce dependence on the ISS? - What alternatives exist for low‑earth‑orbit services? 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They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) ## More by Ellen Ochoa > [It's fun to work the robotic arm in part because it's really a team effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/it-s-fun-to-work-the-robotic-arm-in-part-because-it-s-really-a-team/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [There was a lot of light and a lot of rumbling and vibration, especially the first minute or minute-and-a-half. And then after about two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/there-was-a-lot-of-light-and-a-lot-of-rumbling-and-vibration/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [Usually, girls weren't encouraged to go to college and major in math and science. My high school calculus teacher, Ms. Paz Jensen, made math…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/usually-girls-weren-t-encouraged-to-go-to-college-and-major-in-math/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [I don't know of any issues associated with alcohol before flight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/i-don-t-know-of-any-issues-associated-with-alcohol-before-flight/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [We continue to not only operate the International Space Station but to increase its capabilities as well as commercial contributions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/we-continue-to-not-only-operate-the-international-space-station-but/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [The review committee has left it to NASA to determine the scope of these alleged incidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/the-review-committee-has-left-it-to-nasa-to-determine-the-scope-of/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [Astronauts are very professional and when they're preparing for launch, they prepare for it as the most serious endeavor of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/astronauts-are-very-professional-and-when-they-re-preparing-for/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [That's what we want to do here at Johnson Space Center. 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In high school, I enjoyed my American and English literature classes because my teachers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/i-was-always-drawn-to-teachers-who-made-class-interesting-in-high/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [We are constantly emphasizing to people that they need to address anything that affects flight safety or mission success, many pathways to do that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/we-are-constantly-emphasizing-to-people-that-they-need-to-address/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [I think of it as a good opportunity to let, in particular, school kids know that this job and other interesting jobs in science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/i-think-of-it-as-a-good-opportunity-to-let-in-particular-school-kids/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [I was born in 1958, the same year NASA was established, which I like to think of as not a coincidence. I was 11…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/i-was-born-in-1958-the-same-year-nasa-was-established-which-i-like-to/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [A hallmark of the Latino community is to help one another, if students are interested in a way to give back and help their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/a-hallmark-of-the-latino-community-is-to-help-one-another-if-students/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [Well, with so many space shuttle missions that we've done, I think it's just sort of natural that each one hasn't necessarily gotten the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/well-with-so-many-space-shuttle-missions-that-we-ve-done-i-think-it-s/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) [Explore all 30 Ellen Ochoa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) ## More Earth quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. 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