wildstar@nmtvax.UUCP (10/22/85)
I have a question for everyone:
If I were to build a spacecraft, as a private company, which was
capable of travel to the asteroid belt, are there any enforceable laws
out there that would prohibit me from mining rare earths, gold, platinum,
and the like and returning earthside to sell the product?
I had the idea of using Joe Neumann's "energy device" as an energy
source for a constant-acceleration drive system. Certain people denounce
the device as a "perpetual motion machine", other people call it a
"mass-energy converter". I for one am just willing to experiment with
small models to see if I can get a self-sustaining current. If it really
works, with the current feedback will ensure that a smaller model will
be just as effective as a larger one, if you assume you have materials
that can take the stress.
I do recall the UN has an Outer Planets Treaty, and that there is
also one that claims all extra-terrestrial resources to be "common human
heritage". I think there was also an international treaty restricting the
role of spaceflight to individual governments, as well as a United States
law prohibiting private spaceflight. But I am curious to know the
existance and present status of these laws, if such laws exist and are
currently in force.
Sincerely Yours,
Andrew Jonathan Fine
(Wildstar)Dale.Amon@FAS.RI.CMU.EDU (10/29/85)
There is really nothing to stop you from mining the asteroids. Since the US (and the USSR) declined to sign the treaty with the 'common heritage' clause, there are no restrictions on such utilizations. The only restriction is that there can be no 'national expropriation', ie the US cannot plant a flag and claim the body. I don't know where you've been if you think private spaceflight is illegal. And I'm sure the people at the space commercialization office at DOT would be equally surprised. There have already been two private test firings of large 'sounding' rockets. Two companies are now backed with large amounts of money to develop private launch vehicles, one of which is a manned vehicle with the intent of taking tourists into space for two day trips. The scuttlebut is that Soceity Expeditions has agreed to set up a funding package of up to $280M to back Pacific American Launch Services (Gary Hudsen) in design and construction of the reusable VTVL-SSTO Phoenix. Vessel is modular and refuelable, so unlike the shuttle, it can leave LEO. A Phoenix is projected to cost about the same as a 747. Completion supposedly by the early 1990's. Maybe you can book a flight to watch NASA put up it's space station. Actually, I don't honestly know how real the funding is. I've been trying to get hold of Gary to find out, but I haven't gotten a call back yet. I'd also guess the first flight will be several years late and will cost twice as much as expected to develop, build and operate. But even then, it will fly economic circles around anything the turkeys at NASA or DOD are up to. And there is another point: given that you can get there and they can't, who cares what they say anyway? That's the WHOLE POINT of frontiers!!!
ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems) (11/01/85)
> There is really nothing to stop you from mining the asteroids. Since the US > (and the USSR) declined to sign the treaty with the 'common heritage' > clause, there are no restrictions on such utilizations. The only restriction > is that there can be no 'national expropriation', ie the US cannot plant a > flag and claim the body. There is at present a controversy over the 'common heritage' clause in the law of the sea treaty. Some interpret it to mean 'owned in common by all - hands off for private exploitation' others think it means 'all have equal right to exploit the resource'. Isn't language wonderful? ... > There have already been two private test firings of large 'sounding' > rockets. Two companies are now backed with large amounts of money to develop > private launch vehicles, one of which is a manned vehicle with the intent of > taking tourists into space for two day trips. The scuttlebut is that Soceity > Expeditions has agreed to set up a funding package of up to $280M to back > Pacific American Launch Services (Gary Hudsen) in design and construction of > the reusable VTVL-SSTO Phoenix. Vessel is modular and refuelable, so unlike > the shuttle, it can leave LEO. A Phoenix is projected to cost about the same > as a 747. Completion supposedly by the early 1990's. Maybe you can book a > flight to watch NASA put up it's space station. > Tell me more!! And where do I sign up to work long hours at low pay g to to assure an early seat aboard ('Steward? Me? Yes, that would be a fine also job. How much do I have to pay to be hired?' :-) ... > And there is another point: given that you can get there and they can't, who > cares what they say anyway? That's the WHOLE POINT of frontiers!!! But you do have to come in to 'town' for supplies ... -- E. Michael Smith ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems 'If you can dream it, you can do it' Walt Disney This is the obligatory disclaimer of everything. (Including but not limited to: typos, spelling, diction, logic, and nuclear war)
al@ames.UUCP (Al Globus) (11/08/85)
> If I were to build a spacecraft, as a private company, which was > capable of travel to the asteroid belt, are there any enforceable laws > out there that would prohibit me from mining rare earths, gold, platinum, > and the like and returning earthside to sell the product? I don't think so, but I'm no lawyer. > > I do recall the UN has an Outer Planets Treaty, and that there is > also one that claims all extra-terrestrial resources to be "common human > heritage". The so-called Moon Treaty was not ratified by the US Senate. > I think there was also an international treaty restricting the > role of spaceflight to individual governments, No, but there is something along the lines of governments being responsable for regulation of satellites launched from their soil. > as well as a United States > law prohibiting private spaceflight. No. As a matter of fact, it is official US policy to encourage private spaceflight. Thank Mr. Reagan for that.
al@ames.UUCP (Al Globus) (11/08/85)
> Pacific American Launch Services (Gary Hudsen) in design and construction of > the reusable VTVL-SSTO Phoenix. Vessel is modular and refuelable, so unlike > the shuttle, it can leave LEO. A Phoenix is projected to cost about the same > as a 747. Completion supposedly by the early 1990's. Maybe you can book a > flight to watch NASA put up it's space station. > Does anyone know what Gary Hudsen's experience in space flight is? As far as I can tell he's blown up one booster on the launch pad and that, aside from studies, is it. Does he have experienced people on his staff? I.e., I'd like to believe he can pull off Phoenix but have no reason to think he can. Ever hopeful (but very skeptical) ...