Defining the notion of mining, extraction and collection: A step toward a sustainable use of lunar resources

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Zac J.S. Wager
  • Lukas Kuhn
  • Heloise Vertadier
  • Jessy Kate Schingler
  • Chelsea Robinson

The use of lunar resources is the key to a lasting and sustainable settlement of humankind on the Moon. Numerous missions are currently underway to go to Earth's only natural satellite and start mining its resources. The goal of these missions is primarily scientific-focused and would allow the exploitation of regolith toward the goal of extracting water, allowing the Moon to be considered as an outpost for more distant missions. However, the technology to extract and make use of these resources on the Moon is currently limited to simply collecting lunar regolith. Questions of ownership, property and resource rights ripple out from this simple starting point: What is the definition of collection? Collection is often considered to be a synonym of mining when it comes to space resources. In that sense, mining is defined as being the extraction of valuable material which has an economic interest for the miner. As for extraction, it refers to activities that consist of withdrawing a resource from its natural environment. But those definitions were meant for resources located on Earth. Can the same be applied to lunar resources? Current missions do not plan on drilling and extracting lunar regolith per se, rather they may simply scoop lunar dust as they land. In that case, can it really be considered as collecting? The definition of these terms is of fundamental importance as they might shape the way we use space resources in the future. This paper aims to propose a definition of collection, extraction and mining while being mindful of the international space law and its interpretation.

Original languageEnglish
JournalActa Astronautica
Volume201
Pages (from-to)592-596
Number of pages5
ISSN0094-5765
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.12.2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 IAA

    Research areas

  • Appropriation, Definition, Extraction, International law, Lunar resources, Mining, Nasa, Outer space, Ownership, Property, Regolith, Space law, SRU, Sustainable
  • Environmental planning
  • Biology

Recently viewed

Researchers

  1. Olaf Anderßon

Activities

  1. Minerva: A Review of Science, Learning and Policy (Fachzeitschrift)
  2. Resource use and competition between honey bees and wild bees in the Lüneburger Heath
  3. It’s all method – Schmitz and Neo-phenomenology
  4. Tourismuspolitischer Dialog - 2013
  5. Constructing Sites Construction Site
  6. University of Minnesota Press (Verlag)
  7. Shaping the Future, Participation & Coping with Complexity – Culture as blind spot and pivotal Perspective of ESD
  8. 2. Gottfried Benn-Symposion an der Universität Siegen - 2013
  9. Guidelines for Assessing Biodiversity-Related Risks and Opportunities in the Financial Sector: An Aid for Implementing the VfU Biodiversity Principles
  10. ZEW-Workshop "Gender and the labour market" - 2008
  11. Exploring business models of sustainability pioneers - An analysis of case studies in the smartphone industry
  12. The Civic Culture Transformed: From Allegiant to Assertive Citizens
  13. Digitale Führung (Keynote)
  14. Transition into Unemployment and Demand for Social Protection. The Imperfection of Measurement or Perfection of Social Policy in Germany?
  15. A longitudinal study of the effect of the year abroad on L2 pragmatic competence.: Research Seminar on Applied Linguistics (Universität Bonn)
  16. Die Versinnbildlichung der Wissenschaft am Beispiel des Science Slams
  17. EuroNanoForum 2011
  18. Fakultät Management und Technologie (Organisation)
  19. Enteignung russisch kontrollierter Energieinfrastruktur
  20. Enforceable Brand Agreements and Due Diligence Legislation: Complements or Substitutes in the Labor Governance of Global Supply Chains?