SCIENCE, SETTLEMENT, SECURITY, OR SALES? COMPETING AND COMPLEMENTARY VISIONS FOR ASTEROID POLICY

摘要

The unique features of asteroids present challenges to the making of policy for asteroid-based activities, including mining and planetary defense. Any sound approach to policymaking for asteroid mining should be based on an explicit and considered set of long-term, fundamental objectives for asteroid-based space activities, rather than an ad hoc response to particular commercial or other initiatives. We consider four classes of asteroid activities: science, human settlement of other parts of the solar system, planetary defense, and commercial mining. While these activities are not competing, they are respectively best served by policy measures that are not straightforwardly compatible. Trade-offs between measures that best serve these different goals may arise. This paper discusses these four activities and their related policy demands, highlighting issues for further debate.