RUSSIA -- considered as the world's largest source of natural resources is planning to join Luxembourg in its mission to mine minerals from the outer space. This is according to the statement made by Tatyana Golikova, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister.
The realm of Science Fiction revolves around the concept of space mining, but a number of governments and private firms want to pursue the idea and turn it into reality. Luxemburg is recognized as the first country to adopt all legal regulations related to mining in space. They have also identified it proper to include mining in asteroids.
"In January, Russia offered Luxembourg with a framework agreement to use the exploration in space, particularly in Mining," said Golikova. He is part of the Russian delegation headed by the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. "We are waiting for their response."
Commercial mining remains to be a far thought of the idea because it is hampered by so many things. Countries all over the world remain passive about the thought considering the technical challenges as to how people could carry out such mission. The first problem is how they could possibly bring back a huge quantity of the mining products back to earth.
The focus of the people behind the idea of space mining is that instead of bringing back all the minerals they have mined in space, they will create various interplanetary "stations" to provide support to the communities in outer space.
Iron, nickel, and cobalt are known to be abundant in asteroids. And because these are critical components of the space vehicles, it is only best that they are put to good use. The group of Platinum metals is also abundant in asteroids and if mined properly, they can be brought back to earth and be used for internal electronics and circuits.
The law that dominates various space explorations is included in the Outer Space Treaty signed in 1967. It was also ratified in the midst of the Cold War and is therefore heavy on its prohibition on the use of weapons that could bring about mass destruction in space, the moon, or any other celestial body.
The treaty explicitly forbids any government to take ownership of whatever is claimed from any celestial resource such as Mars or the Moon. This is based on the idea that everything from space is considered "the common heritage of mankind."
Luxembourg has expressed its willingness to work with other countries to make the exploration possible through a multilateral agreement. However, the countries all over the world may pass their own legislation. It could raise the specter out of it that everyone wants to get a piece of it.
Golikova, however, added that it is too early to talk about direct cooperation, which is lacking a legal framework.
