International, Legal and Economic Issues
**International, Legal and Economic Considerations** _Chairman: Brad Blair_
**”Mining Law and Property Rights for Outer Space”** _Wayne White, Oceaneering Space Systems_
**”Economic Incentives and Tax Credits for Space Resource Development”** _Eva Jane Lark, BMO Nesbitt Burns_
**”The ILO as Property Rights Agent”**_ Steve Durst, International Lunar Observatory Association and Space Age Publishing Company__ _
**”3D Metal Printing in Space: Enabling New Markets and Accelerating the Growth of Orbital Infrastructure”** _Jason Dunn, Aaron Kemmer, Michael Chen, David Hutchinson and Brad Blair — Made in Space_
* * *
**”Mining Law and Property Rights for Outer Space”** _Wayne White, Oceaneering Space Systems_
-the more space law is similar to terrestrial law, the easier it is for lawyers to advise their clients – Outer Space Treaty
* Prohibits territorial sovereignty * OST is a general statement of principles; more detailed laws and regulations are required to govern private space activities * Nothing to stop private companies from going out and settling space * UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Space (COPUOS) operates on basis of consensus — very difficult to obtain
– 1979 Moon Treaty banned real property rights and heavily regulated resource appropriation – only 13 countries have signed Moon Treaty (not U.S. and other space-faring nations) – Agreement governing ISS is useful but none of the partners would negotiate something like it again – U.S. policy is not focused on resource extraction but that policy could change – UN charter actually provides a mechanism for peaceful transition to self government — space colonies will probably want to be independent, self governing…. – U.S. can enact legislation that provides incentives for private activities while still remaining autonomous – The U.S. can coordinate effort with allies to promote international acceptance, cooperation and collaboration – Law of the Sea Treaty has provisions for paying to mine ocean resources – U.S. never signed Law of the Sea Treaty, but it coordinated legislation with allies governing that area
**”Economic Incentives and Tax Credits for Space Resource Development”** _Eva Jane Lark, BMO Nesbitt Burns_
– Pre-purchase agreement like the one that Solaren has with PG&E on solar power satellites is very valuable — you can get a loan from the bank based upon it – Ansari X Prize — another economic incentive – cheap reliable access to space is a deal breaker — no CRATS, no bucks – NASA’s is changing its approach to incentives
* SBIRS * Centennial Challenges * COTS
– Other examples: Oklahoma tax credits to Rocketplane (FAIL) and Sen. Bill Nelson proposing tax incentives for business to move to Florida – SPSP — production/investment credits, carbon credits/offsets/RECS, rebate offers, etc. – Canadian Oil and Gas Exploration
* “flow-through” shares with two tax credits (CEE and ITCE) * CEE = Canadian Exploration Expense — 100 percent write off of the investment ($10,000/$10,000) * ITCE = Investment Tax Credit for Exploration – Another 15 percent on top of investment ($10,000 + $1,500 = $11,500) * Packaged for small investors * Achieve multiple policy goals — help get small investors in, develop marginal lost * Mineral property right structure — don’t own the land, own the mineral rights * Excellent analog for developing moon, asteroids, etc.
**”The ILO as Property Rights Agent”**_ Steve Durst, International Lunar Observatory Association and Space Age Publishing Company__ _
– International Lunar Observatory has goal to create a permanent astrophysical observation and commercial communications systems at the lunar south pole
* precursor mission to moon_ _ * astrophysical observatory * human mission to service polar base
– ILO serve as property rights agent – individual property-land ownership is fundamental human right – 10 billion acres on the moon, not counting crater slopes – individual claim of lunar/multi-world acreage has same justification and rationale as individual claim to right to vote – Precursor mission is teamed up with several Google Lunar X Prize competitors — telescope to the moon — being built here in Silicon Valley — working with Bob Richards – Looking to open ILOA to more participation — observation, communication, education, etc.
**”3D Metal Printing in Space: Enabling New Markets and Accelerating the Growth of Orbital Infrastructure”** _Jason Dunn — Made in Space_
– 3D printers will revolutionize space – let’s move manufacturing out to space — why build it on Earth then have to put it into a small payload shroud and subject it to 10 minutes of launch stress to put it into space – unfortunately, we haven’t made much progress on that over the decades – 3D printing can make parts and equipment – can print parts and tools on demand – can print parts specifically designed for use in space – launch manufacturing materials, not parts – excessive weight and waste built into space vehicles now in order to survive launch stresses – fewer spare parts and recycle materials for use as feedstock for new parts – ISS has a billion dollars worth of spare parts — heavy and costly to launch to space – 3D printers on moon and asteroids — can be used to print tools, factories – Asteroid and lunar resources can be used in the 3D printers — for Mars missions as well — could greatly reduce costs – Made in Space created as a result of Singularity University session this past summer – Made in Space focused on three goals:
* microgravity research flights * adapt 3D printers for space-based applications * fly 3D printer to ISS
* * *
(C) Douglas for Parabolic Arc, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us Post
Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh