Category: Space Resources

At long last, the glorious future we were promised in space is on the way 5/23/2023

At long last, the glorious future we were promised in space is on the way

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow George Sowers contributed to this article about how last Friday, NASA awarded a $3.4 billion contract to a team led by Blue Origin for the design and construction of a second Human Landing System to fly astronauts down to the Moon. The announcement capped a furious two-year lobbying campaign by Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos to obtain a coveted piece of NASA’s Artemis program. NASA also notched a big win, gaining the competition with SpaceX it sought for landing services.  May 23, 2023.

SpaceX Bets Steel Plates Will Keep Launchpad From Blowing Up 5/9/2023

SpaceX Bets Steel Plates Will Keep Launchpad From Blowing Up

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow George Sowers contributes to this article about how the Starship launchpad was badly damaged in flight test last month, and experts question whether CEO Musk’s fix will be enough. To ensure that each subsequent flight doesn’t fling debris everywhere, the company is adding a new feature: a pair of massive steel plates with pressurized water to help dampen the effects of as many as 33 Raptor engines igniting during takeoff.  May 9, 2023.

Policy, Legal Processes and Precedents for Space Mining 4/30/2023

Policy, Legal Processes and Precedents for Space Mining

Scot W. Anderson, Korey J. Christensen, Julia La Manna, Katherine Wood, Payne Institute Fellow Alex Gilbert, and Director Morgan Bazilian write a chapter in the new Handbook of Space Resources.  When humankind began to reach into outer space, it thought of space like the ocean. The high seas are beyond the law of any nation, and so are governed by international law.  Outer space is similarly beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, and so the space-faring nations looked at international law to regulate space activities.  April 30, 2023.

Starship Launch Ushers In a New Space Economy 4/20/2023

Starship Launch Ushers In a New Space Economy

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow George Sowers contributes to this article about how even though the SpaceX rocket exploded in flight, it still represents a major step toward refueling ships in orbit, which will eventually enable lunar outposts and mining operations on the moon.  As test flights go, that’s a success that will soon lead to new destinations and opportunities.   April 20, 2023.

Fueling the First Space-Based Economy 1/25/2023

Fueling the First Space-Based Economy

Payne Institute Fellow Alex Gilbert contributes to this article about how we’re venturing forth to the Moon and beyond and untethering ourselves from old ideas and science.  Innovations such as in-space refueling, mineral mining, and biofabrication make it possible to dream of a future where humans can live and work in space without depending on Earth’s resources. As investments in new technology that challenges old ideas and science pick up, the “Great Untethering” has begun.  January 25, 2023.

Space mining startups see a rich future on asteroids and the moon 1/7/2023

Space mining startups see a rich future on asteroids and the moon

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Angel Abbud-Madrid is featured in the article about how nobody wants to think about a future in which humans don’t thrive. So it’s time for us to go into space. Space mining has matured to the point where there are dozens of startup companies, even larger firms, addressing aspects of what’s called the “space resources value chain.”  January 7, 2023. 

Could Space-based Satellites Power Remote Mines? 12/18/2022

Could Space-based Satellites Power Remote Mines?

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Ian Lange contributes to this article about how a study from a group of researchers at the Colorado School of Mines looked at one potential use case of space-based technologies – powering remote mining sites that aren’t connected to any electric grid. Unfortunately, even at those extremes, solar power satellites aren’t yet economical enough to warrant the investment.  December 18, 2022.  

Colorado School of Mines, Lunar Outpost reach Level 2 of NASA’s Break the Ice Challenge 12/14/2022

Colorado School of Mines, Lunar Outpost reach Level 2 of NASA’s Break the Ice Challenge

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow George Sowers is the team leader and professor for the Mines Team Ice Diggers.  The team will now build a prototype of their lunar excavation, the Outpost Digger System (ODS), for a 15-day durability demonstration test slated for September 2023.  Today NASA announced that Mines and Lunar Outpost have won an equal share of a $500,000 prize purse for their design as part of their submission to the NASA Break the Ice Challenge.  December 14, 2022.