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Policy Recommendations for Economically and Socially Valuable Asteroid Mineral Resource Exploitation Activities

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Policy Recommendations for Economically and Socially Valuable Asteroid Mineral Resource Exploitation Activities Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Scholar Works Theses 5-2016 Policy Recommendations for Economically and Socially Valuable Asteroid Mineral Resource Exploitation Activities Anthony Hennig [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses Recommended Citation Hennig, Anthony, "Policy Recommendations for Economically and Socially Valuable Asteroid Mineral Resource Exploitation Activities" (2016). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by RIT Scholar Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of RIT Scholar Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Policy Recommendations for Economically and Socially Valuable Asteroid Mineral Resource Exploitation Activities By Anthony Hennig Masters of Science Science, Technology and Public Policy Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements for the College of Liberal Arts/Public Policy Program at ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Rochester, New York May 2016 Submitted by: Anthony Hennig Department of Public Policy Signature Date Department of Mechanical Engineering Accepted by: Dr. Eric Hittinger/Assistant Professor Department of Public Policy Signature Date Dr. Thomas Cornell/Professor Department of Science, Technology, and Society Signature Date Dr. Kean Wu/Assistant Professor Department of Accounting Signature Date A. Hennig Policy Recommendations for Space Mineral Mining TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2 Space Resource Exploitation Basics and Risks ................................................................................................ 12 2.1 The Changing Status Quo of Space Mineral Resources ....................................................................... 12 2.1.1 Growing Body of Knowledge on Asteroid Composition and Location ............................... 13 2.1.2 Mineral Resource Scarcity and Demand is Increasing Economic Pressure...................... 17 2.1.3 Decreasing Technology Costs for Spaceflight ............................................................................... 23 2.1.4 The Potential for a Space Resource Industry ................................................................................ 25 2.2 Policies in Place for Space utilization ......................................................................................................... 29 2.2.1 The Outer Space Treaty .......................................................................................................................... 29 2.2.2 National Space Policy of the United States ..................................................................................... 35 2.2.3 The SPACE Act 39 2.3 The Exposed Policy Gaps................................................................................................................................. 42 2.3.1 Technology Development ..................................................................................................................... 45 2.3.2 Surveying Duties 46 2.3.3 Ownership 47 2.3.4 Infrastructure Development ................................................................................................................ 48 3 Methodology of This Analysis ................................................................................................................................. 49 2016 Page 2 of 178 A. Hennig Policy Recommendations for Space Mineral Mining 3.1 Historical Analogs .............................................................................................................................................. 49 3.2 Mineral Mining .................................................................................................................................................... 51 3.2.1 Spanish Silver Exploitation ................................................................................................................... 51 3.2.2 American Gold Rush 55 3.2.3 Australian Gold Rush ............................................................................................................................... 59 3.2.4 Modern Mining 61 3.2.5 The Use of Antarctica .............................................................................................................................. 64 3.2.6 Deep Sea Bed Exploitation .................................................................................................................... 68 3.2.7 Diamond Mining 73 3.3 Fructus Stocks...................................................................................................................................................... 76 3.3.1 French and British Renewable Resource Exploitation ............................................................. 77 3.3.2 Fishing and Exclusive Economic Zones ........................................................................................... 79 3.4 Digital and Telecommunications Resources ........................................................................................... 83 3.4.1 Radio Spectrum 84 3.4.2 Geostationary Orbit Allocation ........................................................................................................... 86 3.4.3 Internet Allocation 87 4 Policy Issue: Technology Development Policy................................................................................................. 91 4.1 Technology Development Types .................................................................................................................. 91 4.1.1 Basic Research Needs ............................................................................................................................. 92 4.1.2 Applied Research Needs ........................................................................................................................ 93 4.2 Dimensions of Research Agents ................................................................................................................... 94 2016 Page 3 of 178 A. Hennig Policy Recommendations for Space Mineral Mining 4.2.1 Public Research Policy Support .......................................................................................................... 94 4.2.2 Private Research Programs .................................................................................................................. 96 4.3 Policy Mechanisms ............................................................................................................................................ 97 4.4 Hybrid Research Policy for Space Mineral Resource Activities ...................................................... 99 4.4.1 Public Procurement Might Be Forbidden .................................................................................... 100 4.4.2 Public Prizes and Contests to Develop Shared Technology Interests .............................. 101 4.4.3 Intellectual Property (IP) as a Resource ...................................................................................... 104 4.4.4 Tax Subsidies and Incentives are Not Appropriate Now ...................................................... 105 4.5 Conclusions and Future Evolutionary Pathways ............................................................................... 106 5 Policy Issue: Surveying ........................................................................................................................................... 107 5.1 Surveying as Part of the Claim Process, and Changes From Tradition ..................................... 108 5.2 Identifying Asteroids for the Public Good ............................................................................................. 114 5.3 Characterizing Asteroids for Private Benefit ....................................................................................... 116 5.4 Conclusions and Future Evolutionary Pathways ............................................................................... 119 6 Policy Issue: Ownership ......................................................................................................................................... 121 6.1 The Failures of the Common Heritage of Mankind ........................................................................... 122 6.2 Res Communis Policies Are Also Insufficient ...................................................................................... 128 6.3 Total Ownership Policies Propose a Frightening Future ................................................................ 132 6.4 Coordinating Asteroid Use Through Licenses ..................................................................................... 134 6.4.1 History of Success 135 6.4.2 Preventing Exclusivity ......................................................................................................................... 139 2016 Page 4 of 178 A. Hennig Policy Recommendations for Space Mineral Mining
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