Here’s how to triple the stay time on the lunar surface with no increase in cost
What’s missing from space exploration?
“Manufacturing” says Made in Space CEO Andrew Rush as quoted in the Jacksonville Daily Record. “You need a reason to go. Every frontier we’ve ever opened as a people was because there was an economic reason for us to go and live and work in that place … That’s what we think is the missing piece in space exploration, . . . that economically-focused motivator to go and innovate and do new things.”
Partial Ownership of Space Resources for the New Space Economy
This paper introduces the concept of Partial Ownership of Outer Space Resources while not conflicting with the Outer Space Treaty. The system allows competition for resource utilization, while preventing monopolies through open ownership and preserving the incentives for investment, thus benefiting all participating nations.
NSS proposes public/private partnerships to develop space solar power
A new white paper lays out the strategy
The Space Resource Report: 2020
The Space Resource has released their compendium of major developments in space resources in 2019, with an eye toward monitoring progress through 2020 and beyond. The Team aims to cover advances in the science, business, and technology development that will pave the way for humanity’s expansion into space
Living off the “land” in space
Building blocks for governance of space resource activities
The Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group announces adoption of the Building Blocks of an International Framework on Space Resource activities
A proposed solution for space debris removal
Maritime traditions can be used as a model for creation of a space salvage entity that would incentivize private contractors to remove orbital debris via a credit based system.
EXPAT: Expandable Shielded Rotating Space Habitat
Anthony Longman of Skyframe Research presented his concept for a free space settlement built from Asteroid materials at the Space Studies Institute SSI 50 last September. The system uses a structural design concept called Tensegrity to start small from an 8.5m pressure hull and expand iteratively to progressively larger stages ending with a habitat large enough for 8000 people. The final structure contains 90 acres of managed woodland complete with outdoor mall space and over 5 floors of living quarters. Longman appeared recently on The Space Show to provide further details of the concept. His presentation can be found at timestamp 1:32 into the SSI 50: 01 Habitat Design Presentation.
Fill er’ up! Orbit Fab scores $3 million in seed round financing.
TechCrunch reports that the startup gets an infusion of cash fueling its growth. The young satellite refueling company has demonstrated their technology on the ISS and is working with satellite manufacturers to incorporate their standard nozzles on board to enable propellant transfer by robotic refuelers, extending the life of the spacecraft.