A Series on Innovation and Space

During this next installment of the Innovations in Space series, our team provides an overview of space mining and the extraction of natural resources in outer space. Space mining and the exploration of natural resources in outer space present at least two value propositions. First, the availability of resources will be critical to supporting the continued exploration of outer space and potential colonization of other planets. Natural resources (including water) will be valuable, if not essential, to these long-term and sustainable efforts. Second, there are significant resources that can be mined for use and commercial ventures back on Earth. As additional innovative technologies are developed, the feasibility of space mining becomes increasingly possible (if not probable) to achieve both of these value propositions. These technologies are hyper-connecting the world (and the Moon and the planets) and offering new ways to interact. In the arena of space mining, developments are bringing many legal, regulatory, and contractual challenges and considerations that need to be kept in mind to support the successful launch of a new business. Along with innovative business models and technologies (some fully or partially still on the drawing board), often come new hurdles, paradigms, and new approaches to partnering and capital raising.