Congress Says Yes to Space Mining, No to Rocket Regulations

Well, it seems that the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act is on a fast-track through Congress with the President expected to sign as soon as it gets to his desk. I'm all for Space exploration but this bill seems a little shaky to me because there will be no regulatory oversight for private spaceflight investors. I can just see the arguing and fighting now, plus the unsubstantiated claims to just about everything that's not nailed down. Basically, it's the Wild, Wild West but in outer space.

Capitalistic Captain Kirks rejoice! Yesterday the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act soared through both congressional houses with vacuum-like ease. First and foremost, the bill protects private spaceflight from regulatory oversight, giving the industry up to 8 years to get its innovations in place before government overseers step in and start counting rivets. But more interesting (if less immediately applicable), the bill lets entrepreneurs keep whatever nonliving souvenirs they find out in the void, opening the door to everything from asteroid-based gold mines to comet-collected rocket fuel. The next step is President Obama’s desk, but he’s likely to sign.

Moon Casino? Check! Sleezy Moon Depot? Check! Martian prostitution? Check! Minus the train-robberies I think this is gonna be the Wild West all over again. What says ATS?

www.wired.com...

a reply to: lostbook

Basically, it's the Wild, Wild West but in outer space.

Firefly!!!

(Sorry, couldn't help it).

a reply to: lostbook

I think they are doing this because for one, only people who can actually and realistically do this is people with money, and have interests to protect, so they won't be reckless.

And two, if you start putting regulations on science beyond the realm of everyday safety, then you won't progress very far.
Remember when they did all those nuclear tests back in the day? It all started with piling tons and tons of TNT in one spot, or when they started making iron clad war ships? They practically sunk without a team 24 / 7 bailing water.
I see it as progress, eventually regulations will come in, but right now, it is the wild west.

a reply to: eluryh22

I didn't have time to really watch that show but based off what I saw, YES.

a reply to: lostbook
Just who gave America the right to decide what or what not happens in space. Just what would happen if I went to Mars and picked up a Mars rover for a souvenir, Remember it's a non living thing.
Also there was a gook selling sections of land on the Moon, no-one owns the Moon so how can he sell something he doesn't own. Besides if you read my past posts I OWN THE MOON, I landed there in 1966 and claimed it for me and the Queen. I know people wouldn't believe me so I planted some markers, you don't believe me go and look.

If I am reading this article correctly they are complaining that privately funded space missions should not keep anything they collect which may be of value?

Why would it be an issue if they did?

a reply to: lostbook

If you have time... watch the series.

If you don't have time... watch the movie (Serenity).

a reply to: lostbook

Oh boy.

Here we go.

One step for man, a giant scramble for humanity.

I feel this is like opening Pandora's box. So much good can come out of it, yet I fear all the bad part will rush out first.

Only three words to explain my cynism: weapons in space.

Sorry universe, I wish you luck!

Commercialization of space for some reason brings Cameroon's Avatar in mind - space exploitation fueled by corporate greed. At this time all of this is just wishful thinking, but with progress we saw in last few decades, makes you wonder what will happen in future, when space flight might be within reach of corporations.

Another movie that comes to mind is Fifth Element - remember all that junk close to spaceports?! Wait till we bring some space junk back to earth...

There is growing number of debris around the earth from space exploration so far, wonder how this will make it more dangerous... as corporations are well know for not caring for their surroundings...

a reply to: SuperFrog

Yes, agreed. And add to that that corporations will no doubt form their own private security systems to protect their investments. Pluto is a long way from the Earthly, american national police forces if there's a robbery there.

If corporations form their own security forces, you can expect near space to become real tense.

And what if some pro-human extinction corp on the Moon decide nuke Earth? With the privatisation of security forces might come the temptation to place WMDs in space.

The technology isn't quite there yet to make this the Wild West, but then again, the initiative is just getting started. I do agree, space is the next frontier. Although I also think that governments don't have what it takes to do massive space exploration and asteroid mining to the extent corporations could, especially with the potential rewards out there.

originally posted by: lostbook
Basically, it's the Wild, Wild West but in outer space.

Well, realistically, the United States has no particular claim to space, and the U.S. Congress can take any legislation it comes up with about it and shove it.

At this point, might makes right in space. And if you can afford to get a piece of it and defend it, it's all yours.

"Basically, it's the Wild, Wild West but in outer space."

But ... but ... I LIKE the Wild, Wild West.