Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

U. S. Space Exploration and Planetary Resources

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Space Mining and Its Regulation

Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books ((ASTROENG))

  • 3029 Accesses

Abstract

Sometimes U. S. leadership in the world is questioned and rightly so. But for better or worse, the United States does lead in efforts to develop space mining activities. The four new ventures that have been leading this initiative are all U. S. in origin and location, and the U. S Space Act of 2015 provides a possible legal and regulatory pathway to actually controlling and promoting commercial activities in space in coming years. The rest of the world is watching closely. Some are concerned about the precedent. Others are poised to see how they might share in the bounties of outer space in future years. This chapter explores why and how U. S. space initiatives are forging ahead. It explores what is happening and examines the likelihood that these visionary dreams of young space entrepreneurs will be realized in their lifetimes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Hubble Space Telescope: NASA.gov http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/story/index.html#.VOE0yfnF-Sq (Accessed August 27, 2015)

  2. 2.

    Hubble Overview, Space Science, ESA http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Hubble_overview (Accessed August 27, 2015)

  3. 3.

    Kepler Overview, Kepler:NASA.gov http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/overview/index.html#.VOkYSvnF-So (Accessed August 27, 2015).

  4. 4.

    About the James Webb Space Telescope, Explore James Webb Space Telescope, NASA http://jwst.nasa.gov/about.html.

  5. 5.

    NASA Facts: TESS: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, FS-2014-1-120-GSFC (October 2014), online: TESS, NASA http://tess.gsfc.nasa.gov/documents/TESS_FactSheet_Oct2014.pdf

  6. 6.

    Apollo Program, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/index.html#.VM1iz2jF-Sr.

  7. 7.

    Mariner Missions, NASA http://science1.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-missions (Accessed August 27, 2015).

  8. 8.

    Mariner 2, NASA http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-2/.

     Mariner 4, NASA http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1964-077A.

     Mariner 5, NASA http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-5/.

     Mariner 6 & 7, Mars Exploration, NASA http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/programmissions/missions/past/mariner6/7/.

     Mariner 9, NASA http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1971-051A.

     Mariner Missions, NASA http://science1.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-missions/ (All accessed on August 27, 2015)

  9. 9.

    Launch Coverage, MESSENGER, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/messenger/launch/index.html.

  10. 10.

    NASA Facts: Voyager to the Outer Planets and Into Interstellar Space, JPL 400-1538 09/13 (Accessed September 2013). http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/fact_sheets/voyager.pdf

  11. 11.

    Galileo, Solar System Exploration, NASA http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Chron&StartYear=1980&EndYear=1989&MCode=Galileo

  12. 12.

    “Pioneer-10 and Pioneer-11” (26 March 2007), online: Mission Archives, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/missions/archive/pioneer10-11.html Also see Pioneer, Program, Jet Propulsion Laboratory http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/Programs/pioneer.html.

  13. 13.

    “Unlocking Jupiter’s Secrets” (24 August 2011), online: Overview, Juno, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/overview/index.html#.VOkGuPnF-So.

  14. 14.

    NASA, Press Kit: Cassini-Huygens Saturn Arrival (June 2004) http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/60116main_cassini-arrival.pdf.

  15. 15.

    Pioneer 12, Quicklook, Jet Propulsion Laboratory http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/QuickLooks/pioneer12QL.html.

  16. 16.

    “Magellan Mission at a Glance,” http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/magellan/fact.html (Accessed August 27, 2015).

  17. 17.

    New Horizons: The First Mission to the Pluto System and the Kuiper Belt (August 2014), online: NASA http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/NHMissionFS082114HiPrint.pdf (Accessed Aug. 2014).

  18. 18.

    Clementine Project Information, NASA http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/clementine.html.

  19. 19.

    Lunar Prospector Mission, LCROSS, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/searchforwater/lunar_prospector.html.

    LRO Overview, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/overview/index.html.

    LCROSS Overview, LCROSS, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/overview/index.html.

    LADEE, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ladee/main/index.html and http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ladee/launch/index.html#.VOkwr_nF-So.

  20. 20.

    Viking 01, Solar System Exploration, NASA http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Alpha&Letter=V&Alias=Viking%2001.

  21. 21.

    Overview, Mars Global Surveyor, NASA http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/overview/.

  22. 22.

    Overview, Mars Pathfinder, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars-pathfinder/index.html.

  23. 23.

    Objectives, 2001 Mars Odyssey, NASA http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/mission/science/objectives.

  24. 24.

    Summary, Mars Exploration Rovers, NASA http://mars.nasa.gov/mer/overview.

  25. 25.

    Mission Overview, MRO, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/mission/index.html#.VO5ZcS6sjEY.

  26. 26.

    Phoenix Mars Mission, University of Arizona http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/index.php.

  27. 27.

    MAVEN: Answers About Mars’ Climate History, MAVEN, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/overview/index.html#.VO5p9i6sjEY.

  28. 28.

    The rover’s primary mission is to find out if Mars is, or was, suitable for life. Another objective is to learn more about the red planet’s environment.” Elizabeth Howell, “Mars Curiosity: Facts and Information”, Space.com (16 December 2014), online: Space.com http://www.space.com/17963-mars-curiosity.html.

  29. 29.

    NASA Facts: InSight…into the Early Evolution of Terrestrial Planets, JPL 400-1513, Rev 2 6/13 (Pasadena, Cal: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology) at 1, online: NASA http://insight.jpl.nasa.gov//docs/InSight_NASA_fact_sheet_rev3_June_2013_FC.pdf.

  30. 30.

    NASA, NASA Facts: Mission Concept: Mars 2020 (October 2013) at 1, online: NASA http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mars2020/files/mars2020/FINAL_Mars_2020_handout_10-7-13.pdf.

  31. 31.

    NEAR-Shoemaker, NASA Science, NASA http://science.nasa.gov/missions/near.

  32. 32.

    OSIRIS-REx, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html#.VO-Ujy6sjEY.

  33. 33.

    Mission Overview, Stardust-NExT, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stardust/mission/index.html.

  34. 34.

    Deep Impact: Mission to a Comet, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/mission/index.html#.VN_aHfnF-So.

  35. 35.

    Deep Impact: Mission to a Comet, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/mission/index.html#.VN_aHfnF-So.

  36. 36.

    SWAS, Harvard University https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/swas/swas.html.

  37. 37.

    Discovering Planets Beyond, Hubble Discoveries, Hubblesite http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/discovering_planets_beyond/alien-atmospheres.

  38. 38.

    Kepler Discoveries, Kepler, NASA http://kepler.nasa.gov/Mission/discoveries.

  39. 39.

    The Clementine Mission, http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/clementine/.

  40. 40.

    Ice on the Moon http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/ice/ice_moon.html.

  41. 41.

    Ibid.

  42. 42.

    LADEE Project Scientist Update: The Legacy Lives On! https://www.nasa.gov/ames/ladee-project-scientist-update-the-legacy-lives-on/.

  43. 43.

    Pioneer-10 and Pioneer-11” (26 March 2007), online: Mission Archives, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/missions/archive/pioneer10-11.html Also see Pioneer, Program, Jet Propulsion Laboratory http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/Programs/pioneer.html. Also see:Galileo, Solar System Exploration, NASA http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Chron&MCode=Galileo&StartYear=1980&EndYear=1989&Display=ReadMore.

  44. 44.

    ESA, News, “Cassini Samples the Icy Spray of Enceladus’ Water Plumes” (22 June 2011), ESA http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Cassini-.

  45. 45.

    ESA, News, “Cassini Spots Mini Nile River on Saturn Moon” (12 December 2012), online: ESA http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Cassini_spots_mini_Nile_River_on_Saturn_moon.

  46. 46.

    Mariner 10, Solar System Exploration, NASA http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=Mariner_10&Display=ReadMore.

  47. 47.

    Mariner Missions, NASA http://science1.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-missions.

  48. 48.

    Viking 01, Solar System Exploration, NASA http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Alpha&Letter=V&Alias=Viking%2001.

  49. 49.

    Overview, Mars Global Surveyor, NASA http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/overview/. To learn more about the top discoveries of Mars Global Surveyor mission, also see NASA, “NASA—Mars Global Surveyor Mission Highlights” (13 April 2007), Mars Global Surveyor, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mgs/mgs-20070413a.html#.VO0VgS6sjEY.

  50. 50.

    Overview, Mars Pathfinder, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars-pathfinder/index.html.

  51. 51.

    Science, 2001 Mars Odyssey, NASA http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/mission/science/.

  52. 52.

    Science Highlights, Mars Exploration, NASA http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer10/sciencehighlights.

  53. 53.

    “NASA Orbiter Observations Point to ‘Dry Ice’ Snowfall on Mars” (11 September 2012), online: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/mro20120911.html.

  54. 54.

    MH Hecht et al, “Detection of Perchlorate and the Soluble Chemistry of Martian Soil at the Phoenix Lander Site” (2009) 325:5936 Science 64.

  55. 55.

    Mike Wall, “Wow! Ancient Mars Could Have Supported Primitive Life, NASA Says”, Space.com (12 March 2013), Also see: Space.com http://www.space.com/20182-ancient-mars-microbes-curiosity-rover.htm.

  56. 56.

    NEAR-Shoemaker, NASA Science, NASA http://science.nasa.gov/missions/near/.

  57. 57.

    NASA, News Release, 06-091, “NASA’s Stardust Findings May Alter View of Comet Formation” (13 March 2006), online: Newsroom, NASA http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/status/060313.html.

  58. 58.

    Dawn Mission Overview http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/mission/index.html.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Ram S. Jakhu

  2. Executive Board, International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, Arlington, VA, USA

    Joseph N. Pelton

  3. African Union Commission, Pan African University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Yaw Otu Mankata Nyampong

Authors
  1. Ram S. Jakhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph N. Pelton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yaw Otu Mankata Nyampong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jakhu, R.S., Pelton, J.N., Nyampong, Y.O.M. (2017). U. S. Space Exploration and Planetary Resources. In: Space Mining and Its Regulation . Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39246-2_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39246-2_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39245-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39246-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation