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
	Ҥ 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