Mining in space may not be science fiction for much longer, and terrestrial mining operations could benefit from this new technological and engineering frontier.
In late 2015, the US Congress approved the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship (SPACE) Act. Under this act, private companies can claim ownership of any non-living resources they obtain in space. The act also extends existing indemnities related to any possible catastrophic commercial aerospace launch failures up to 2025.
One company which is lauding the move is Planetary Resources, which is eyeing asteroids for mining, and counts Avatar director James Cameron, and Google bosses Larry Page and Eric Schmidt amongst its investors.
Planetary Resources is hunting for asteroids which contain significant amounts of oxygen and hydrogen, which it can extract and produce rocket fuel for space vehicles, without having to transport the fuel load out of the earth’s atmosphere in the first place.
By mining for resources to be used in space, the company hopes to boost its profits, and eliminate the issue of trying to bring the resources back to earth via re-entry vehicles and procedures– a potentially costly and loss-making venture.
According to Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research director Professor Andrew Dempster, the SPACE Act has various problems, but is a good start. Additionally, a space mining push would provide additional opportunities for existing mining operations.
“Mining in space is real and we need to start thinking about how to regulate it, at an international level,” said Professor Dempster.
Professor Dempster estimates full off-earth mining operations could be only a decade or two away from becoming reality – well within the time frames in which big mining companies operate.
Would-be space miners have developed various technologies, such as a gamma-ray spectroscope which is able to detect metals in asteroids. This spectroscope technology would also have applications for the conventional mining industry.
“With companies in this business for a few years now, it is not surprising that new sensors for space prospecting are emerging,” Professor Dempster said. “The new sensors are also likely to be useful on Earth.”
Other technologies being developed for use in space, like autonomous and remote robots, can also be used in the resources industry, say experts. This means technology and engineering expertise could flow both ways.
[Image: PRO2di7 & titanio44]