Shadowself
16th November 2015, 01:49
American companies could soon mine asteroids for profit
The United States Senate has passed the Space Act of 2015, which includes a range of legislative changes intended to boost the US space industry.
Perhaps the most significant part are measures allowing US citizens to engage in the commercial exploration and exploitation of "space resources", with examples including includes water and minerals. The right to exploit resources covers anything in space that isn't alive - so if a commercial exploration team discovers microbial life, they can't exploit it for profit.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-11/12/how-to-mine-asteroids-for-fun-and-profit
But.....Not so fast.
Here is the Senate Bill that was just passed and I started to read it...when I came upon this...
(3) by amending section 70102 to read as follows:
Ҥ 70102. Space launch system use policy
“(a) In general.—The Space Launch System may be used for the following circumstances:
“(1) Payloads and missions that contribute to extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.
“(2) Other payloads and missions that substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.
“(3) On a space available basis, Federal Government or educational payloads that are consistent with NASA’s mission for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.
“(4) Compelling circumstances, as determined by the Administrator.
“(b) Agreements with foreign entities.—The Administrator may plan, negotiate, or implement agreements with foreign entities for the launch of payloads for international collaborative efforts relating to science and technology using the Space Launch System.
“(c) Compelling circumstances.—Not later than 30 days after the date the Administrator makes a determination under subsection (a)(4), the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives written notification of the Administrator’s intent to select the Space Launch System for a specific mission under that subsection, including justification for the determination.”;
(4) in section 70103—
(A) in the heading, by striking “space shuttle” and inserting “space launch system”; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking “space shuttle” each place it appears and inserting “space launch system”; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
Ҥ 70104. Definition of Space Launch System
“In this chapter, the term ‘Space Launch System’ means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18322).”.
(b) Technical and conforming amendments.—
(1) TABLE OF CHAPTERS.—The table of chapters of title 51 is amended by amending the item relating to chapter 701 to read as follows:
“701. Use of space launch system or alternatives .........................
70101”.
(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS OF CHAPTER 701.—The table of contents of chapter 701 is amended—
(A) in the item relating to section 70101, by striking “space shuttle” and inserting “space launch system”;
(B) in the item relating to section 70102, by striking “Space shuttle” and inserting “Space launch system”;
(C) in the item relating to section 70103, by striking “space shuttle” and inserting “space launch system”; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
“70104. Definition of Space Launch System.”.
(3) REQUIREMENT TO PROCURE COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.—Section 50131(a) of chapter 51 is amended by inserting “or in section 70102” after “in this section”.
In the article posted....
Handing out the right to exploit chunks of space to your citizens sounds very much like a claim of sovereignty, despite the Space Act's direct statement that "the United States does not thereby assert sovereignty or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or the ownership of, any celestial body."
~
Agreements with foreign entities and compelling circumstance aside this reads like a jurisdiction of checks and balance/regulations from the Department of Transportation of what comes and goes from outer space if you get my drift... :tape2:
also this reads like a :star: Preamble to Disclosure with safeguards installed.
They are regulating federal laws to protect themselves as to what comes and goes in Space.
SEC. 106. Federal jurisdiction.
Section 50914 is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(g) Federal jurisdiction.—Any claim by a third party or space flight participant for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under the license shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts.”.
(11/10/2015)
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/text
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/text#toc-id1aa4b936715d47ea8bf82122059d3aa9
Pay special attention to this one:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/text#toc-id8191994105764EDDBB43C4375958604C
Original bill here:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/all-info
The United States Senate has passed the Space Act of 2015, which includes a range of legislative changes intended to boost the US space industry.
Perhaps the most significant part are measures allowing US citizens to engage in the commercial exploration and exploitation of "space resources", with examples including includes water and minerals. The right to exploit resources covers anything in space that isn't alive - so if a commercial exploration team discovers microbial life, they can't exploit it for profit.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-11/12/how-to-mine-asteroids-for-fun-and-profit
But.....Not so fast.
Here is the Senate Bill that was just passed and I started to read it...when I came upon this...
(3) by amending section 70102 to read as follows:
Ҥ 70102. Space launch system use policy
“(a) In general.—The Space Launch System may be used for the following circumstances:
“(1) Payloads and missions that contribute to extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.
“(2) Other payloads and missions that substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.
“(3) On a space available basis, Federal Government or educational payloads that are consistent with NASA’s mission for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.
“(4) Compelling circumstances, as determined by the Administrator.
“(b) Agreements with foreign entities.—The Administrator may plan, negotiate, or implement agreements with foreign entities for the launch of payloads for international collaborative efforts relating to science and technology using the Space Launch System.
“(c) Compelling circumstances.—Not later than 30 days after the date the Administrator makes a determination under subsection (a)(4), the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives written notification of the Administrator’s intent to select the Space Launch System for a specific mission under that subsection, including justification for the determination.”;
(4) in section 70103—
(A) in the heading, by striking “space shuttle” and inserting “space launch system”; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking “space shuttle” each place it appears and inserting “space launch system”; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
Ҥ 70104. Definition of Space Launch System
“In this chapter, the term ‘Space Launch System’ means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18322).”.
(b) Technical and conforming amendments.—
(1) TABLE OF CHAPTERS.—The table of chapters of title 51 is amended by amending the item relating to chapter 701 to read as follows:
“701. Use of space launch system or alternatives .........................
70101”.
(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS OF CHAPTER 701.—The table of contents of chapter 701 is amended—
(A) in the item relating to section 70101, by striking “space shuttle” and inserting “space launch system”;
(B) in the item relating to section 70102, by striking “Space shuttle” and inserting “Space launch system”;
(C) in the item relating to section 70103, by striking “space shuttle” and inserting “space launch system”; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
“70104. Definition of Space Launch System.”.
(3) REQUIREMENT TO PROCURE COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.—Section 50131(a) of chapter 51 is amended by inserting “or in section 70102” after “in this section”.
In the article posted....
Handing out the right to exploit chunks of space to your citizens sounds very much like a claim of sovereignty, despite the Space Act's direct statement that "the United States does not thereby assert sovereignty or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or the ownership of, any celestial body."
~
Agreements with foreign entities and compelling circumstance aside this reads like a jurisdiction of checks and balance/regulations from the Department of Transportation of what comes and goes from outer space if you get my drift... :tape2:
also this reads like a :star: Preamble to Disclosure with safeguards installed.
They are regulating federal laws to protect themselves as to what comes and goes in Space.
SEC. 106. Federal jurisdiction.
Section 50914 is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(g) Federal jurisdiction.—Any claim by a third party or space flight participant for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under the license shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts.”.
(11/10/2015)
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/text
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/text#toc-id1aa4b936715d47ea8bf82122059d3aa9
Pay special attention to this one:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/text#toc-id8191994105764EDDBB43C4375958604C
Original bill here:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/all-info