Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Trump gives signal for moon mining with new decree

US shows a pro-business approach regarding space resources.

Fermin Koop by Fermin Koop
April 7, 2020
in News, Science, Space, Space flight

With much of the world currently dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, US President Donald Trump is also looking at the moon.

Credit NASA

Trump signed an executive order called “Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources,” which reaffirms that Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space.

“This executive order establishes U.S. policy toward the recovery and use of space resources, such as water and certain minerals, in order to encourage the commercial development of space,” Scott Pace, executive secretary of the U.S. National Space Council, said in a statement.

The order had been in the works for about a year and reflects the US’ long-held pro-business approach when dealing with space resources. In 1979, the country refused to sign the Moon Treaty that would stipulate non-scientific use of space resources to be governed by an international regulatory framework.

At the same time, in 2015, Congress passed a law that allowed U.S. companies and citizens to freely use lunar and asteroid resources. With Trump’s new executive order, the U.S. now possesses a clearer vision for future off-Earth mining, without the requirement for further international treaties or agreements.

The order comes during a push for lunar exploration. Last year NASA unveiled the Artemis program’s mission to send astronauts to the moon by 2024. A part of the operation would entail establishing a sustainable lunar outpost by 2028, fueled by tapping into lunar resources like water ice that is thought to be plentiful on craters.

Nevertheless, the moon is not the final destination for NASA’s ambitions. Mars is also in line and to reach that goal the Artemis program will help NASA and its partners learn how to support astronauts in deep space with limited resources for long periods of time. NASA, though, will have strong competition from Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The question of which laws apply (including property laws and border agreements) once you leave the surface of the Earth is a complex one; even if it weren’t, many laws and rules on the topic were written or conceived of during a very different space age and various forms of Cold War.

As it stands, there is very little in the way of official legal status for materials harvested on the Moon. Which authorities on Earth are going to arbitrate disagreements? How will we prevent the lunar surface from being disfigured by a commercial mining operation?

To that end, the U.S. will “seek to negotiate joint statements and bilateral and multilateral arrangements with foreign states regarding safe and sustainable operations for the public and private recovery and use of space resources,” the executive order reads. Nevertheless, in seeking international support, the U.S may draw on legal precedents and examples from other domains to promote the recovery and use of space resources.

“American industry and the industries of like-minded countries will benefit from the establishment of stable international practices,” the order reads.

Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Related posts:
  1. How a mobile signal booster works: boost your signal strength and coverage
  2. Trump gives companies “license to pollute” amid coronavirus outbreak
  3. Mining cryptocurrencies consumes as much energy as mining precious metals
  4. The moon is filled with titanium ores – prospect for mining colony in the future
  5. Mining the moon: an entrepreneur’s vision
Tags: Moonnasatrump

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW