Chris Lewicki, President and Chief Executive Officer of Planetary Resources, Inc. said the innate human desire to explore will open up new marketplaces ripe with resources and economic value.
Speaking in preparation for the Austmine 2017: Mining’s Innovation Imperative conference and exhibition, the former NASA engineer said humanity’s quest to develop new frontiers is the driving force into space, with asteroid mining as the first step.
“We have crossed continents; we have crossed oceans; we have mastered the skies; now, we can cross into space,” Mr Lewicki said.
Central to that quest into outer space and accessing resources beyond Earth’s orbit is the search for water.
Mr Lewicki said the in-space market for resources will be fuelled by water obtained from asteroids.
“In addition to being critical for life support, water molecules can be converted to rocket fuel enabling a reusable and re-fuelable transportation system in space that allows us to do more and go farther,” he said.
“Because we are accessing the most important resource to our customers today, we will be able to deliver this resource to any customer’s point of need.
“Planetary Resources will be the resource provider for people and products in space.”
In an interview for the Austmine 2017 conference, Mr Lewicki said governments can play a major role in enabling the nascent industry of asteroid mining, and help fulfil the human desire to move beyond Earth.
“The Government of Luxembourg is investing €25 million (AUD $34.3 million) into Planetary Resources which will be put toward launching the first commercial asteroid prospecting mission by 2020,” Mr Lewicki said.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Société Nationale de Crédit et d’Investissement provided €12 million (AUD $16.5 million) in direct investment, and €13 million (AUD $16.9 million) in grants which will be crucial for reaching an asteroid.
“This is an example of how government and industry can work together to identify opportunities and craft programs which are mutually beneficial to the private and public sectors.”
Mr Lewicki also said government can play a part by removing regulatory barriers.
“The support (of Luxembourg) validates our mission along with the passage of the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act in 2015,” he said.
This Act allows U.S. citizens to engage in the commercial exploration of space resources.
Chris Lewicki’s presentation at Austmine 2017 is titled Turning Science Fiction into Science Fact: Asteroid Mining 101 and is sure to provide a fascinating insight into this ground-shaking technology.
The Austmine 2017: Mining’s Innovation Imperative conference will be held from 22-24 May at the Perth Conference and Exhibition Centre.
It is Australia’s premier conference for showcasing the best technological innovations in the resource industries.
For further information and to purchase conference passes, visit austmineconference.com.au.
To read Chris Lewicki’s interview, sign up for the Austmine 2017 conferenence newsletter.