📆 2023 This #SBSP study by #Astrostrom for #ESA proposes a 29,339 m2 #solar ☀️ collector at the #Lagrange point, #SolarPanels from #Lunar 🌙 materials, transported by a #SpaceElevator 🚠 from the #Moon https://nebula.esa.int/sites/default/files/neb_study/2753/C4000136309ESR.pdf

#ISRU #MoonMining #SpaceBasedSolarPower #SpaceRobot

A single liter costs a few thousand dollars. Because there is no magnetosphere around the #Moon 🌙, it's believed there are large quantities of #helium3 gas trapped in pockets of the #lunar regolith. #Interlune is working toward the launch of a demonstrator mission in 📆 2026 that will sample the lunar regolith, measure the helium-3 quantity, and then attempt to extract some of it. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/mining-helium-3-on-the-moon-has-been-talked-about-forever-now-a-company-will-try/

#MoonMining

Mining helium-3 on the Moon has been talked about forever—now a company will try

“There are so many investments that we could be making, but there are also Moonshots.”…

Ars Technica

In 📆 2022, the #SpaceIndustry was estimated to be worth US$350 billion 💵 and is projected to grow 📈 to more than one trillion 💰 dollars over the next two decades. Actors such as #SpaceX already own a majority of the #LEO #satellites 🛰️ . In the absence of a concerted global 🌏 dialogue, individual countries are pushing ahead with their own laws. Usually, international arrangements tend to arise 🥱 when there is a real risk of #conflict. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00722-4

#SpacePolitics #MoonMining

Act now to prevent a ‘gold rush’ in outer space

As private firms aim for the Moon and beyond, a book calls for an urgent relook at the legal compact that governs space exploration.

ST/SPACE/61/Rev.2: International Space Law: United Nations Instruments

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

The #European 🇪🇺 Commission is expected to propose the world's first comprehensive #SpaceLaw after Easter https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-wants-make-space-safe-law-label-boring/

#SpacePolitics #SpaceRegulation

Space is the new ‘Wild West.’ The EU is dying to step in and regulate.

The European Commission is gearing up to publish the world’s first comprehensive space law.

POLITICO

While the #OuterSpaceTreaty offers broad principles to guide the activities of nations, it does not offer detailed “rules of the road.” Essentially, the treaty assures freedom of exploration and use of space to all humankind. There are just two caveats to this, and multiple gaps immediately present themselves. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/03/world/space-law-united-nations-partner-scn/index.html

#SpaceRegulation #SpaceLaw

There are multiple potential futures 🔮 that could arise from a lack of collaboration in #SpaceGovernance. Without further cooperation and agreement among the major and minor #SpacePowers, multiple, competing governance systems may end up being established, further increasing the potential for #conflict 💣 https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2022/11/governance-in-space-mining-the-moon-and-beyond.html

#SpacePolitics #SpaceRegulation

#SpaceForce officials don’t have to obtain a permit or permission from the #California Coastal Commission for rocket launches; they only need to reach an agreement to mitigate the effects.

But commissioners in recent months have questioned whether #SpaceX launches, which carry private #Starlink equipment on up to 87% of their flights, should be considered private activity. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-11/la-me-spacex-coastal-commission

#SpacePolitics #SpaceRegulation

California officials reject more SpaceX rocket launches

SpaceX's plans to launch more rockets from California's coast were rejected by a state commission this week, with some officials citing Elon Musk's political posts on X.

Los Angeles Times

#SpaceX has sued a #California commission in federal court, accusing panel members of #political bias in blocking the space venture company from increasing 📈 the number of rockets it launches from a U.S. air base in the state. The commission on Wednesday declined to comment. https://www.reuters.com/legal/musks-spacex-sues-california-panel-alleges-political-bias-over-rocket-launches-2024-10-16/

#SpacePolitics #SpaceRegulation

#Newsom indicated he broadly agreed with the lawsuit and that the independent agency should have confined its debate to the merits of the permit rather than engage in a discussion of #Musk’s political activities. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/18/elon-newsom-musk-california-spacex-00184408

#SpacePolitics #SpaceRegulation

@spaceflight "first"? The actual Outer Space Treaty not count for some reason?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty

Outer Space Treaty - Wikipedia

comprehensive adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of comprehensive adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

@falken "the Outer Space Treaty offers limited and ambiguous regulations to newer space activities" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty#Applicability_in_the_21st_century
Outer Space Treaty - Wikipedia

@falken "There are very few globally recognized rules for space" https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-wants-make-space-safe-law-label-boring/
Space is the new ‘Wild West.’ The EU is dying to step in and regulate.

The European Commission is gearing up to publish the world’s first comprehensive space law.

POLITICO