What is Lunar mining? Here's what you should know

At a time when a new space race heats up and lunar mining has raised key legal issues, the US is turning to private companies to advance its outer space goals. Emphasizing the need to encourage the private sector to explore the investment possibilities on the moon, Michael Usowski, Senior Defense Intelligence Analyst for Space and Counterspace at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), told Fox News, "If we want to maintain our lead, then we need to continue to invest and ensure that we're the ones setting the pace and not another entity."

US Bid to stop China

According to the United Nations 1966 treaty, no nation can claim property rights in space. But the officials have warned that China could ignore those laws and norms to advance its goals. DIA's John Huth, Chief of the Office of Space and Counterspace said, "No sovereign country is supposed to plant that flag." He warned, "But we've also seen China do things in the South China Sea where they've built islands and then have claimed some exclusion zone around it. So, those are the things that we certainly want to keep an eye on."

US to enact new space laws

US lawmakers have warned that a new set of rules could be necessary to make sure everyone plays fair. Emphasizing the need to frame new laws for stopping Beijing, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said, "We need some updated space law for sure. As space becomes not only available for mining, but it's really becoming a warfighting domain as well."

Huth said there is nothing that really precludes any one country from extracting minerals from the moon or other planets, it is a matter of developing those best practices.

US to return to Moon

A law was enacted in 2015 which asks private companies to explore outer space resources. This was followed by President Donald Trump’s 2020 executive order which encourages advancements in space mining.

The U.S. plans to return to the lunar surface by the end of the year by utilizing commercial partnerships. A private company Astrobotic has been selected to provide the launch and lander for the unmanned Peregrine Mission.

FAQs:

What steps has the US taken to encourage private companies to explore and invest on the moon?
The US lawmakers enacted a law in 2015 that asks private companies to explore outer space resources. This was followed by President Donald Trump’s 2020 executive order which encourages advancements in space mining.

Why does the US want to enact a new set of laws related to lunar mining?
Emphasizing the need to frame new laws for stopping Beijing, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said that the country needs some updated space laws for sure. He clarified that space has become not only available for mining, but it's really becoming a warfighting domain as well."