Deep Space Commodities

Description

Welcome to the new space economy... Space is open for business! The dawn of a new space race led by private sector entrepreneurs is upon us thanks to the USA Space Act 2015 and technology advances like SpaceX rockets, which have greatly reduced the cost of space flight. For the first time in history, the advances in both technical and legal infrastructure have opened up exciting opportunities that are already driving the commercial exploration of deep space commodities, Space tourism with Virgin Galactic, and the serious planning for the colonisation of our Moon and Mars. Tom James, a leading commodity and energy market practitioner and author, has brought together top professionals in academia, astropolitics, space engineering, and space law to explore the exciting opportunities and challenges businesses face in the new off-planet economy. With quadrillions of dollars of mineral wealth and frozen water within our reach, the stakes may be high, but so are the rewards. So pack your bags, fasten your oxygen mask and let’s get ready to boldly take business where business has not gone before... Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Deep Space Commodities and the New Space Economy (Tom James)....Pages 1-12 A New Space Race (Tim R. Bowler)....Pages 13-19 Launching from Earth: The Science Behind Space Law and Technological Developments (Tom James, Simon Roper)....Pages 21-51 Humans Versus Machine: Who Will Mine Space? (Tom James, Simon Roper)....Pages 53-67 Scouting for Resources (Tom James)....Pages 69-79 Asteroid Mining Concepts (Tom James)....Pages 81-92 Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment Mission (AIDA): Space Mining Concepts (Tom James)....Pages 93-105 A Briefing on the Legal and Geopolitical Facets of Space Resources (Michael J. Listner)....Pages 107-121 The Problems with an International Legal Framework for Asteroid Mining (Kamil Muzyka)....Pages 123-140 Potential Issues for Interplanetary and Interstellar Trade (John Hickman)....Pages 141-150 Astropolitics and International Relations (Bleddyn E. Bowen)....Pages 151-157 The Economic Viability of Mars Colonization (Robert Zubrin)....Pages 159-180 Back Matter ....Pages 181-203