Posted on 11/18/2015 9:17:32 AM PST by Theoria
This week the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation known as the SPACE Act of 2015 (The U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act), which recognizes and promotes the rights of U.S. companies to engage in the exploration and extraction of space resources from asteroids and other celestial bodies.
That’s a huge win for private space exploration companies, especially for companies with upcoming plans to tap into the economic potential of the moon. That’s because the legislation, in its definition of “space resources,†is sufficiently broad to include resources found on the lunar surface. In short, the moon could now be in play for some of America’s most innovative space exploration companies.
One of those companies is Moon Express, a privately funded commercial space company with an audacious plan to mine the surface of the moon. As Bob Richards, co-founder and CEO of Moon Express, told me, minerals and water found on the moon would be technically classified as a “space resource†according to Title IV of the SPACE Act, which defines “space resource†simply as “an abiotic resource in situ in outer space.â€
“The key to unlocking the economic potential of the moon is the water on the moon,†Richards said. “Water is the ‘oil of the solar system,’ and can be used to create rocket fuel that changes the economics of space resources, not just on the moon, but throughout the solar system. So our initial goal is to locate and learn how to mine and stockpile the water on the moon. We’re effectively after our first gusher.â€
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Sounds like another waste of House member’s time.
Earth First! We’ll mine the Moon later.
What the hell gives the US Congressfools the idea that they have jurisdiction over real estate and minerals on the moon?
The Crown owns everything.
The US congress does not have jurisdiction over the territories on the Moon.
US laws do not apply there.
The UN has no jurisdiction either.
The first settlers can set up a government of their own, and pass laws that will bind them.
Not that moon. The one up in the sky.
There are several US flags up there, it’s ours until someone takes it...
Nice to meet you, Mr. Harriman! (Or is it Mr. Hope?)
The Environmental Moon People will not be happy
What resources? ...we haven’t been back.
The problem is the Outer Space Treaty. The US signed it in 1967. According to the treaty all resources in space are supposed to be used “for the benefit and use of all countries”. Some people interpret it to mean that any resources mined in space must be split among all nations. No private company would try to mine asteroids if they had all their profits taken away by the UN. This new legislation is to protect private investment in space.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_space_treaty
What could possibly be found there to justify the immense shipping costs?
The Best Things in Life Are Free
The moon belongs to everyone
The best things in life are free
The stars belong to everyone
They gleam there for you and me
The flowers in spring
The robins that sing
The sunbeams that shine
They’re yours, they’re mine
And love can come to everyone
The best things in life are free
Read more: The Ink Spots - The Best Things In Life Are Free Lyrics | MetroLyrics
But you can give them to the birds and bees.
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