Space Mining and Its Regulation (eBook)

Prof.  Ram S. Jakhu is Associate Professor at the Institute of Air and Space Law, Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, where he teaches and conducts research in international space law, law of space applications, law of space commercialization, government regulation of space activities, law of telecommunications and Canadian communications law, and public international law. He is a member of the Global Agenda Council on Space of the World Economic Forum and a Fellow as well as the Chairman of the Legal and Regulatory Committee of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). In 2007, he received a “Distinguished Service Award” from the International Institute of Space Law for significant contributions to the development of space law. He is managing editor of the Space Regulations Library series and a member of the editorial boards of the Annals of Air and Space Law and of the German Journal of Air and Space Law. He served as the first Director of the Master’s Program of the International Space University, Strasbourg, France, 1995–1998. He is a widely published author and editor of an award-winning book, National Regulation of Space Activities. His academic degrees include a B.A. as well as an LL.B. from Panjab University, an LL.M. also from Panjab University in International Law, an LL.M. from McGill University in Air and Space Law, and a Doctor of Civil Law (on Dean’s Honours List) from McGill University in Law of Outer Space and Telecommunications.                     Dr. Joseph N. Pelton currently serves as a member of the Executive Board of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Vice President and Dean of the International Space University as well as the Director Emeritus of the Space and Advanced Communications Research Institute (SACRI) at George Washington University. Dr. Pelton also served as Director of the Accelerated Masters of Science Program in Telecommunications and Computers at the George Washington University from 1998 to 2005. Dr. Pelton was the founder of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation and remains as the Vice Chairman on its Board of Directors. Pelton is a widely published and award winning author with over 30 books written or co-authored or co-edited with colleagues. His book Global Talk was nominated for a Pulitzer and won the Eugene Emme literature award. Dr. Pelton is a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a Fellow of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). He was the Founding President of the Society of Satellite Professional International (SSPI) and a member of the SSPI Hall of Fame. He has served as President of the Comsat Alumni and Retirees Association (COMARA). Until recently he was as President of the International Space Safety Foundation. He received his degrees as follows: BS from the University of Tulsa, MS from the New York University and his doctorate from Georgetown University.                 Dr. Yaw O. M. Nyampong is working as Senior Legal Officer, Pan African University, African Union Commission, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also served as the Executive Director (Academic Associate) of the Centre for Research in Air and Space Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. From 2010 to 2013, he was  post-doctoral research fellow at the Faculty of  Law where his research focuses on the environmental aspects of space exploration and use, particularly how to address the problem of space debris.  Aside from his academic laurels and research experience, Dr. Nyampong has extensive practical experience in the field of air and space law, having worked as an international consultant on a number of air law-related assignments for the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Bank Group. Dr. Nyampong has attended and spoken at numerous air and space law workshops and conferences around the world and has written and published several scholarly articles and book chapters on issues of contemporary relevance in the field.  He holds both a Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) degree and a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Air and Space Law from the Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He also holds Qualifying Certificate in Professional Law from the Ghana School of Law (2000), and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon (1998). He is a member in good standing of the Ghana Bar Association and the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario).  

Foreword 6
Preface 9
Acknowledgements 10
Contents 17
About the Authors 21
1: Introduction 24
Scope 24
New Space Industries and Space Mining Ventures 25
What Natural Resources Are Found in Space and Where Are They? 26
The Technology 28
New Space and the Key Space Actors 28
The Legal and Regulatory Context: Today and  Tomorrow 29
The Longer Term Perspective 30
Structure and Purpose of This Book 31
2: The Importance of Natural Resources from Space and Key Challenges 33
Gauging the Future 35
Coping with the Scale and Complexity Problem 37
Coping with Legal, Regulatory and Standards Problems 41
Conclusions 43
3: Transportation Systems and Targeting Locations for Space Mining 44
New and Improved Transportation Technologies to Support Space Mining 48
Chemical Fueled Launchers 48
Ion Propulsion 49
Nuclear Fueled Propulsion 50
Mass-Driver Systems on the Moon 52
Space Elevator Systems 52
Conclusions 53
4: Power and Robotic Systems for Space Mining Operations 54
Power Systems 55
Photovoltaic and Battery Systems 55
Space-Based Thermocouple Energy Systems 55
Nuclear or Radioactive Isotope Power System 56
Thermoionic Power Source 57
Explosives as a Substitute for Mining-Related Energy Needs 58
Space Robotic Mining Systems 58
Innovative New Space Mining Concepts 59
Conclusions 61
5: U. S. Space Exploration and Planetary Resources 62
Space Telescope Missions 62
The Apollo Lunar Exploration Program 63
The Mariners, MESSENGER, the Voyagers, Galileo, the Pioneers, Juno, Huygens-Cassini, Magellan and New Horizons 63
Lunar Missions 66
Mars Missions 68
NASA Asteroid Mission 71
Assessing the Broad Impact of U. S. Space Missions Over the Past Half Century 72
Space Telescope Findings 72
Useful Information about the Moon 73
Findings Related to Planetary Bodies 74
Mars Exploratory Programs 75
Missions to Comets and Asteroids 77
The Future of Space Exploration Technology Related to Space Mining 78
Conclusions 78
6: Private Sector Space Mining Initiatives and Policies in the United States 80
The Rapid Growth of New Space Activities in the United States 81
Planetary Resources 85
Deep Space Industries 86
Golden Spike Company 87
Shackleton Energy Company 89
Moon Express 90
The B612 Foundation 90
Policies Concerning Space Mining, Resource Extraction and Space Colonies 91
Conclusions 92
7: Space Enterprises in Russia and the  Former Soviet Union 93
Conclusions 103
8: Activities in Europe, Canada and Other Western Countries 105
Herschel Space Observatory 105
Mars Express 106
Venus Express 108
Mercury Mission 108
Jupiter Exploratory Mission 108
European Mission to the Moon 109
ESA’s Deep Space Missions: Giotto, Rosetta, and PLATO 110
Summary of European Initiatives 112
Canada and Other National Initiatives 112
Conclusions 117
9: Asian Space Programs: Japan, China and India 118
Japanese Space Exploration and Scientific Missions 119
China’s Planetary Research and Exploration Programs 124
The Indian Space Program 126
Conclusions 129
10: The International Legal Framework 132
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty 135
The Common Interest Principle and Freedom of Exploration and Use of Outer Space 135
Prohibition of Appropriation of Outer Space and Celestial Bodies 139
Prohibition of Appropriation of Space Natural Resources 142
The 1979 Moon Agreement 146
Conclusion 148
11: National Space Laws and the Exploitation of Natural Resources from Space 150
The United States 153
The United Kingdom 157
The Russian Federation 159
Australia 160
Canada 161
India 162
New Legislative Initiatives in Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates 162
Conclusions 162
12: Conclusions and the Way Forward 164
Appendix: Excerpts of Key International Space Treaties and Relevant U. S. Law 171
Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1967) 171
Article I 172
Article II 172
Article III 172
Article IV 172
Article V 172
Article VI 173
Article VII 173
Article VIII 173
Article IX 173
Article XI 174
Article XII 174
Article XVI 174
Article XVII 174
Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1968) 175
Article 1 175
Article 2 175
Article 3 176
Article 4 176
Article 5 176
Article 6 176
Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972) 177
Article I 177
Article II 177
Article III 177
Article IV 178
Article V 178
Article VI 178
Article VII 179
Article VIII 179
Article IX 179
Article XII 179
Article XIV 179
Article XXI 179
Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1975) 180
Article I 180
Article II 181
Article III 181
Article IV 181
Article V 182
Article IX 182
Article XII 182
Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1979) 183
Article 1 183
Article 2 183
Article 3 184
Article 4 184
Article 5 184
Article 6 185
Article 7 185
Article 8 185
Article 9 186
Article 10 186
Article 11 186
Article 12 187
Article 13 188
Article 14 188
Article 15 188
Article 16 189
Article 17 189
Article 18 189
Article 19 189
Article 20 190
Article 21 190
The United States: Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015 190
At the First Session 190
Title IV: Space Resource Exploration and Utilization 190
SEC. 401. Short Title 190
SEC. 402. Title 51 Amendment 191
“Chapter 513: Space Resource Commercial Exploration and Utilization 191
“§ 51301. Definitions 191
“§ 51302. Commercial Exploration and Commercial Recovery 191
“§ 51303. Asteroid Resource and Space Resource Rights 191
SEC. 403. Disclaimer of Extraterritorial Sovereignty 192
Glossary 193
Index 196