Innovations in Space: Space mining

During this next installment our team explores the possibilities presented by space mining and the extraction of natural resources in outer space. This burgeoning field presents at least two value propositions:

1. First, the availability of resources will be critical to supporting the continued exploration of outer space and potential colonization of other planets. Natural resources (including water) will be valuable, if not essential, to these long-term and sustainable efforts.
2. Second, there are significant resources that can be mined for use and commercial ventures back on Earth.

With these potential benefits driving interest, innovative technologies are being developed to increase the feasibility of space mining. That being said, these same innovations bring many legal, regulatory, and contractual challenges and considerations that need to be kept in mind. Along with new business models and technologies (some fully or partially still on the drawing board) often come new hurdles, paradigms, and approaches to partnering and capital raising.
 

Authored by Scot Anderson, Julia La Manna, Randy Segal, and Steven Kaufman.