Mining the moon: Regulating the firms planning to sell moon rocks

A number of corporations are planning to mine and promote lunar sources, like rock and water ice. Now the race is on to agree a authorized framework that’s honest for everybody

By Adam Mann

BILL NELSON, the administrator of NASA, grinned for the cameras as he handed over a cheque to Justin Cyrus, the boss of an organization known as Lunar Outpost. The quantity? A mere 10 cents. This second final yr was partly a advertising gimmick. However in its personal unusual approach, it was additionally a legitimately essential milestone: it marked the primary time {that a} authorities company – or anybody else for that matter – had signed a deal to purchase pure sources in house.

If all goes to plan, later this yr Lunar Outpost will use a rover to scoop up some lunar mud, snap a photograph of it, and formally switch possession of the fabric to NASA. In return, the company can pay an extra price, this time 90 cents to make a spherical greenback.

The sums could also be small, however that is the beginning of a brand new period for humanity, one wherein the shopping for and promoting of sources will lengthen past our dwelling planet for the primary time. And although Lunar Outpost appears set to be one of many first corporations creating wealth on the moon, will probably be shortly adopted by others. US plans to return folks to the lunar floor rely closely on partnering with corporations.

There may be simply …