session 5

Title: Space Resources, the Enabler of the Space Exploration
type: oral
Description: Space Resources are available on the Moon, Asteroids, Mars and other celestial bodies. Their utilization will have a key role in the future of humanity in general and for space exploration in particular. The first steps in the utilzation of space resources will take placeon the Moon as approximately one hundred missions from aroundthe world are planned to explore and utilize lunar resources. The effective use of space resources will require the establishment of an enabling environment for technologicaland regulatory developments. At the moment a few countries have enacted national laws regarding the use of space resourecs, but these norms are not recognized at the international level. The United Nations COPUOS has set up a working group to create a set of principles that will form the foundation for an agreed legal framework. The development of this framework is of paramount importance in order to attract investors in US, China and the rest of the world to fund space resource activities. This session seeks innovative ideas and concepts regarding the legal and technological issues arising from space resource activities as well as papers describing the state of the art of planned or ongoing resource activities. This session also seeks prospective investors to present concepts regarding the financing of space resource activity.

IPC members