Hey, that's MY gold up there! [OT]

Apr 24, 2012 - 09:50am PT

Did anyone else have their early formative years molded by Heinlein's "The Rolling Stones" (aka Space Family Stone)?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones_%28novel%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty

The treaty explicitly forbids any government from claiming a celestial resource such as the Moon or a planet, claiming that they are the Common heritage of mankind.[2] Art. II of the Treaty states that "outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means". However, the State that launches a space object retains jurisdiction and control over that object.[3] The State is also liable for damages caused by their space object and must avoid contaminating space and celestial bodies.[4]



The actual treaty . . .

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies
http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html

The Outer Space Treaty was considered by the Legal Subcommittee in 1966 and agreement was reached in the General Assembly in the same year ( resolution 2222 (XXI). The Treaty was largely based on the Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, which had been adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 1962 (XVIII) in 1963, but added a few new provisions. The Treaty was opened for signature by the three depository Governments (the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) in January 1967, and it entered into force in October 1967. The Outer Space Treaty provides the basic framework on international space law, including the following principles:

    the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and shall be the province of all mankind;
    outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all States;
    outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means;
    States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner;
    the Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes;
    astronauts shall be regarded as the envoys of mankind;
    States shall be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities;
    States shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects; and
    States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.

Apr 24, 2012 - 09:37am PT
Apparently there are just a few men who have legally captured an enormous amount of the mineral rights for our Earth's Moon, so there is precedence in this regard. I'll have to find the website and resource. I mean really, how can this be legal???
http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/02files/Moon_Mining.html
http://www.thelivingmoon.com/41pegasus/02files/Cosmic_Conspiracy2.html
http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/02files/Moon_Mining.html#Water
http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/02files/Moon_Rights.html

http://www.thelivingmoon.com/41pegasus/02files/Cosmic_Conspiracy2.html

Mining Connection #002
Who Owns the Mineral Rights?

Three people!!!

However, a loophole in Space Law allows individuals and companies to hold Mineral Rights on the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies. Growing concern from Scientists that these rights may be held hostage have been alleviated by a three man North American team; Dr. Joseph Resnick, Dr. Timothy R. O'Neill and Guy Cramer (ROC-Resnick/O'Neill/Cramer team) who have acquired the mineral rights for 95% of the side of the moon that faces Earth, the polar regions and 50% of the far side of the moon. - Source

Dr. Resnick found the loophole in Space Law 25 years ago that allowed him ownership of all planetary bodies outside the "Third Planet from the Sun"... submitted this to the World Court at the Hague, and to the United Nations in New York City. In 25+ years no one has ever disputed Dr. Resnick's claimed ownership. Source

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/nasa-applauds-private-plan-to-mine-asteroids

24-4-2012 05:34 PM EDT
NASA Applauds Private Plan To Mine Asteroids

NASA has finally weighed in on the ambitious plans revealed Tuesday by billionaire-backed private company, Planetary Resources, to mine near-earth asteroids using a fleet of robotic drill-bearing robots. NASA’s associate administrator for communications David Weaver provided TPM with the following statement:

“This project aligns well with our national space policies and goals. President Obama has set the United States on an ambitious path for deep space exploration, seeking to send humans to an asteroid for the first time and ultimately to Mars. As NASA leads this effort, we will certainly look to take advantage of private-sector resources and data. This commercial interest affirms our path forward – a path that relies on private-sector partnerships and innovation to reduce the overall costs to the taxpayer, create jobs and advance our space exploration program.”

Reported by Carl Franzen

Interesting opinion piece at WIRED.COM regarding the legality of mineral claims on celestial objects.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/05/opinion-asteroid-mining/

Psalm 24:1,2
The King of Glory Entering Zion.
A Psalm of David.
"1 The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers."

Deuteronomy 10:14
“To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.”

The startup of two asteroid-mining firms — along with the rise of private spaceflight companies such as California-based SpaceX — is a sign that humanity may finally be taking real steps toward the long-held dream of permanent space settlement, Tumlinson said.

"One company may be a fluke," he said. "Two companies showing up? That's the beginning of an industry."

A fly-by of resources

You have probably heard about the DA14 asteroid set to give the Earth a close-shave, tomorrow (15/2).

What you probably haven’t heard is that it may be worth nearly $200 billion, according to prospective asteroid miners, Deep Space Industries. Launched in 22 Jan, the company intends to do the same with Planetary Resources,another contender; harvest our space visitors' resources.

The prediction of $65 billion of recoverable water and $130 billion of recoverable metal, may be kind of a guess (the consistency of the asteroid is not clearly known); however it can clearly illustrate the abundance of other asteroids' resources waiting to be extracted. Deep Space Industries officials do not intend to go after the DA14, since its orbit makes it too difficult to chase it down.

"While this week's visitor isn't going the right way for us to harvest it, there will be others that are, and we want to be ready when they arrive," Deep Space chairman Rick Tumlinson said in a statement on Tuesday.

The whole idea of space mining involves reducing the amount of material launched from Earth to high-orbit. Current costs are at least $10 million to send 1 ton of material into orbit.

Space rock water could be turned into rocket fuel, and asteroidal metals could provide the basis for manufacturing a space industry, building spaceships and other human habitats. And all this off the planet. Deep Space plans to send robotic scout probes to potential targets in 2015, with sample-return missions shortly thereafter, and possibly beginning space mining operations in about 2020.

Info on the DA14 asteroid: http://on.fb.me/YX9I4i

Info on asteroid mining: http://on.fb.me/11GiKIq

-CHD

Source: http://www.space.com/19758-asteroid-worth-billions-2012-da14-flyby.html