Mooney 1

Cara Mooney

Prof. Dean Leonard

21.FA.ENG.1201.507 English Composition II

October 24, 2021

Literature Review

Why is space mining being considered as an option to gain more resources? As

time continues to go on, more concern is being raised about the amounting

environmental issues on Earth. Specifically, mining resources is an extremely difficult

process, is also damaging to the environment, and is depleting the planet’s non-

renewable resources. Mining in space offers an innovation as it re-introduces rare

metals as a renewable resource and allows an eco-friendlier process. It also elevates

space exploration and lowers the cost of resource travel between Earth and space.

The execution of commercializing resources is relatively new. Building the

technology and shooting it into space has proved to be expensive and tedious since

much of space remains unknown. However, the legal aspect of sharing, selling, and

profiting from space is not new at all. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 was created

during the Cold War and ensued international cooperation regarding space-exploring

nations in hopes of avoiding conflict. The treaty established peace outside of Earth

through the prevention of territorial sovereignty and a common basis of space

exploration being international and not private. The Moon Treaty of 1979 was also

created, though it failed to gain popularity, like the Outer Space Treaty, as it leaves the

possibility of a one-company monopoly and socialization of the moon and other celestial
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bodies, open. Despite its attempts to control space, it never limited free enterprise. The

legalization of space continues to be discussed as the topic of space mining becomes

more prevalent.

In order to continue a peaceful future into space exploration and exploitation,

new treaties need to be developed. With the addition of private governing bodies like

the US Space Force and private companies such as SpaceX and Planetary Resources,

developing a peace model becomes increasingly important. One model presented by

Jonathan Thomas, researcher of the Privatization of Space Ventures from BYU

International Law & Management Review, stated that space should be a free market.

He goes against the Outer Space Treaty and urges nations to claim possession over

discoveries in space. His model pursues the growth of private companies in order to

allow a space economy for resources to build. Contrasting his view, Lynn Fountain, a

researcher and professor at the University of Connecticut, presents a free-market

approach. This approach allows less-developed nations, those that would be weeded

out by Thomas’ model, to be part of the space economy and contribute internationally to

research and resources. As stated, “...such individuals [smaller nations] would have the

ability to connect with space entities they may not otherwise be able to” and “developing

nations focus more on scientific advancements that would improve conditions here on

Earth” (Skauge 831). Developing new treaties would help control possible disputes and

prevent a new space race.

Asteroid resources are more valuable than Earth resources. Asteroids can

contain an abundance of metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, and platinum as well as

resources like ice. By obtaining these resources while in space, a new era of cost-
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efficient space exploration can be reached. As shown by Glenn Harlan Reynolds, a

University of Tennessee law professor, “Building things in space is brutally expensive

because it costs thousands of dollars per pound to launch things into orbit” (1). Having

the materials needed for the space industry already out of orbit eases difficulties in cost

and repair. Not only will companies be able to build and develop machinery in space,

but they also receive large quantities of material at ease. With cost being a large limiter

in the space industry, utilizing space resources for space projects increases efficiency.

Environmentally, the space industry is beneficial as it limits industrial effects on

the Earth. While mining asteroids provides resources for space industries, it also cuts

down the pollution on Earth as damaging pollutants are released into space.

Furthermore, this limits the need for mining to its current extent due to the easier

collection of precious metals in space. Precious metals are becoming more of a

renewable resource since “...many environmentally friendly technologies such as solar

panels, energy-efficient lightbulbs, and electric cars all use precious metals, including

platinum, that are difficult to locate and mine on Earth” (Heins Section D). Heins shows

how the mining of precious metals can essentially be eliminated on Earth while a new

abundance of space metals can further add to clean energy sources, further eliminating

the need for mining of other resources like oil. However, he also mentions the increased

carbon dioxide emissions from space metal transportation, though with companies'

hopeful for profit, they will be able to develop more environmentally friendly rockets in

the future.

Mining in space comes with a large profit. “In 2015, the United States adopted

the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (SPACE Act), which allows private
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citizens to explore and exploit space resources for commercial purposes” (Skauge 822).

Not only have acts been passed allowing the profit of space resources, but a whole new

industry turned space race is created revolving around the commercial trade of rare

metals. Natural resource research conducted by MIT students found, “...there is

potential for significant profit. Currently, research into the feasibility of human and

robotic missions to asteroids is being conducted by both governmental

organizations...and private companies…” (3). This shows that both nations and private

sectors are competing to mine resources and distribute them. By disabling the need for

difficult mining on Earth and potentially turning nonrenewable resources renewable

again will yield high payouts for the corporations mining.

A common misconception about space mining is that it is reliable and abundant.

As stated by Robert Heins, a scholar from Arizona State University, “Asteroids

themselves are extremely resilient and have similar properties to concrete…” (Section

D). This shows that extracting rare metals from them may be difficult from a concrete-

like base. It is also known that asteroids are only about 20% rare metals. The asteroid

belt lies millions of miles from Earth, showing that getting to an asteroid is a lengthy

mission. Furthermore, finding an asteroid that is suitable for mining is a tedious process,

as any asteroid could carry less of the sought-after materials than another. Mining them

also proves to be difficult due to the variation in size and movement. Overall, it is not

uniform and reliable to keep a consistent flow of distribution as perceived.

Why is space mining being considered as an option to gain more resources?

Space mining contributes to a lot of benefits; a major one being the environmental

impact. It could possibly lead to a cleaner economy on Earth. It also enables the
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continuation of the exploration of deep space by allowing large quantities of resources

to already be in space rather than shipped up. Whether sent back home or utilized in

space, the increase in resources allows increased profit and benefit. However, further

research needs to be done in terms of other space entities such as the Moon or Mars.

Could there be a larger abundance of material deep inside other space structures or

planets?
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Works Cited

Heins, Robert. “Shoot for the Moon, If You Miss You’ll Land among Valuable Asteroids:

An Analysis of the Legal Ramifications of Asteroid Mining.” Jurimetrics: The

Journal of Law, Science & Technology, vol. 61, no. 2, Winter 2021, pp. 219–243.

Criminal Justice Abstractions with Full Text,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=i3h&AN=149977319&site=eds

-live. Accessed 17, Oct. 2021.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Asteroid Mining.” The Future of Strategic

Natural Resources.

https://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2016/finalwebsite/solutions/asteroids.html.

Accessed 17, Oct. 2021.

McSweeney, James. “Live Long and Prosper: The Need for a New Multilateral

Agreement Governing Asteroid Mining.” University of Louisville Law Review, vol.

58, no. 3, Summer 2020, pp. 559–587. Academic Search Complete,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=145528101&site=eh

ost-live. Accessed 15, Oct. 2021.

Reynolds, Glenn. “Mine Asteroids in Space to Help Us on Earth.” USA Today.

Academic Search Complete,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=J0E194472035214&

site=ehost-live. Accessed 17 Oct. 2021.

Skauge, Todd. “Space Mining & Exploration: Facing a Pivotal Moment.” Journal of

Corporation Law, vol. 45, no. 3, Mar. 2020, pp. 815–832. Business Source

Complete,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=144232829&site=eds

-live. Accessed 15, Oct. 2021.