Private companies want to mine asteroids for fuel, and build filling stations in space. A bill now in front of the US Congress would help by allowing them to own what they discover – but it might, if passed, meet stiff international opposition.
According to Chris Lewicki (Planetary Resources), it currently costs nearly $2bn (£1.2bn) per year to launch enough water – six tons per person – to sustain the six astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
But, in addition to providing drinking water, H20 can also be converted into breathable air, and into fuel – liquid hydrogen and oxygen form the most efficient rocket fuel known to man.
Currently, spacecraft must carry all the fuel they require, adding significant weight and driving up the cost of getting beyond Earth’s gravity. Once in space, expensive equipment may be abandoned because it’s too costly to take back to Earth.
But, says Lewicki, “Imagine being able to get into space and refuel your spaceship [there].”
Asteroids have little gravity, he adds, so landing on and taking off from them does not require too much energy. Their prevalence and proximity to Earth make them valuable potential way stations for refuelling on longer missions into space.
The 1966 United Nations’ Outer Space Treaty already prohibits national appropriation of space resources. Basically, mining the moon is legally off limits.
But, experts say mining asteroids – particularly for resources which could remain in space – falls into a legal grey area unconceived of by legislators four decades ago.
The slim five-page document proposes allowing US commercial entities ownership over “any resources obtained in outer space from an asteroid”.
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. Thanks
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.