The recent passage of the Space Act of 2015 in the U.S. House and Senate [still needing the president's signature] marks a key milestone for the commercial space industry. Ever since the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, nations have been banned from claiming or appropriating any celestial resource such as the Moon or another planet. Formally titled the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,” the nearly fifty year old agreement has formed the basis of international space law ever since.
...It’s been estimated that a single platinum-rich asteroid 90 feet in diameter could be worth as much as $50 billion. Though these are still early days, there’s considerable speculation that space mining could eventually become a multi-trillion dollar industry. While many of the key players have been hesitant to publicly state specific timetables, some indications have been given for when active space mining might be expected. A recent study sponsored by the Keck Institute for Space Studies determined that a 500 metric ton asteroid could be captured and delivered to high lunar orbit where it would be mined for resources by 2025. That study was co-authored by two members of the asteroid mining operation, Planetary Resources. Another space venture, Deep Space Industries (DSI) has said it is planning to use materials made from mined asteroids, including fuel, water, metals and alloys, for in-space manufacture by the 2020s. Currently, a number of these companies are in the process of testing equipment on earth and in orbit, as well as surveying, identifying and analyzing prospective target asteroids.
...Will this truly launch a new industry of space mining? Only time will tell. But as Eric Anderson, co-founder and co-chairman of Planetary Resources stated following Congressional passage of the Act, “Many years from now, we will view this pivotal moment in time as a major step toward humanity becoming a multi-planetary species. This legislation establishes the same supportive framework that created the great economies of history, and it will foster the sustained development of space.”
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-dawn-of-the-space-mining-age/
4 comments:
There was a well made if minor film about the gritty side of space mining -- Outland. Completely unromantic view of what industrialized space will be like.
The Space Act of 2015 is a Giant Step for GOODSTUFFs Cyber World
This post is an update of GOODSTUFFs Cyber World Lunar Declaration
http://goodstuffsworld.blogspot.com/2015/11/space-act-of-2015-is-good-news-for.html
The intent of this declaration is to give future Goodstuff’s Cyber World generations a “lunar advantage”. The concept was born July 2005.
Neo-neo-imperialist bastards want to rape my homeland. Fellow Astroidians, a call to arms; return home and prepare to defend the Motherland!
Sounds right up my alley, ricpic.
Bago, come on, we carbon-based life forms must stick together!
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