The Importance of Natural Resources from Space and Key Challenges -- Transportation Systems and Targeting Locations for Space Mining -- Power and Robotic Systems for Space Mining Operations -- U.S. Space Exploration and Planetary Resources -- Private Sector Space Mining Initiatives and Policies in the United States -- Space Enterprises in Russia and the Former Soviet Union -- Activities in Europe, Canada and Other Western Countries -- Asian Space Programs : Japan, China and India -- The International Legal Framework -- National Space Laws and the Exploitation of Natural Resources from Space -- Conclusions and the Way Forward.
Summary:
"This book addresses the complex technical challenges presented by remote space mining in terms of robotics, remote power systems, space transport, IT and communications systems, and more. It also addresses the difficult oversight and regulatory issues that face states and non-state enterprises that would take on the perilous task of obtaining natural resources from the Moon and asteroids. An increasing number of countries are becoming involved in space related activities that were previously carried out primarily by the United States and the USSR (now the Russian Federation). How these regulatory endeavors might be handled in international treaties, standards, codes of conduct or other means have become a truly international political issue. And there is yet another issue. In the past, space activities traditionally fell under the exclusive domain of government. But the last few years have seen the emergence of the private sector of "space entrepreneurs." This poses many challenges for the pre-existing governance regimes and state based conceptions of international law. This book examines the adequacies and ambiguities in treaty provisions and national laws and in currently accepted practices involving the growing exploration and exploitation of space-based natural resources"--Back cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.