Dennis M J M.

Monday Jan-28-2013

while it is true that mining will irreparably damage these heavenly bodies there are a few points that come up for me

1) on earth we've dont the same, we have descimated landscapes, forcibly moved humans, irradicared eco-systems ... all this was right in our own back yard, full of life ! to be so concerned about lifeless rocks floating millions of miles through space seems excessive

2) these things are huge. Mining out one asteroid as Planetary Rscs. proposes is a decades long undertaking, hopefully very little would be wasted and the whole thing would be consumed for our use and benefit reducing the need for us to destroy environs at home. If we could get gold from an asteroid or africa I would say its far better to get it from space given the situation in the earth region, for example

3) The universe is SOOOOOOO abundant I dont think we would upset too much balance from mining things in space. Even the moon, as you point out the whole thing is basically covered in resources we could use. Weve had other articles here about using moonrock to build habitats up there... if we have to pay to launch things from here and take resources off world to develop then our development is limited indeed, again I would point to how much damage mining does here, if we can get things from the locations we intend to develop I see it only as a win win

Great post ! Keep 'em comin' :) Interested to see what others think too. I'm not saying that just because we have done it here its okay to mess up other places or anyhting, I just think its better to mess up an asteriod rather than some delicate ecosystem that we rely on for life support and comfort here at home :)

Nick A.

Tuesday Jan-29-2013

I've heard people express concern about 'strip mining' the Moon---though, a lot of its valuables (like the helium-3) are actually sitting in the surface dirt.

Still, rampaging around a surface that is, in places, *billions* of years old might need some limits. The question I see is now: who's going to set those limits? It won't be long before there's companies working on the Moon, and no one really overseeing them---an open frontier.

The movie "Moon" tackles lunar mining ethics in a fun way. Maybe someday Sam Bell will be a symbol of doing things the right way on the Moon.

As far as asteroids...there's quite a few of them. Will anyone consider an asteroid's surface as 'sacred territory'? Or as just a really big chunk of ore?

William K.

Tuesday Jan-29-2013

I think that mining the moon and other bodies is a great idea. This is the perfect way to gain resources that can't be found on Earth, or that we are running out of on Earth. But much like land here on Earth, we would have to set up some sort of governing body for the Moon between countries so that no one country or person can monopolize the entire moon.

Abhimat G.

Friday Feb-01-2013

I’ve never seen the movie “Moon”. Sounds like I should definitely see it some time!

Demarcus B.

Friday Feb-08-2013

I agree that we have done much more damage in our own country but abstaining from asteroid mining may be a political position if a dispute between nations fighting for resources breaks out. I personally feel larger nations will end up monopolizing the moon and influencing any governing body. Much like the veto wielding permanent members of the United Nations. The first to space will be the benefit the most from its resources.