WASHINGTON, DC – The US Congress has passed a new law, HR 2262, that encourages private sector investment in mining the asteroids that pass near Earth. The law was first passed by the House of Representatives, and then by the Senate this week with amendments.
The goal is to establish a stable and predictable regulatory regime so US interests in the commercial space sector can continue to expand.
No terrestrial mining companies have yet responded to the new legislation, but
Planetary Resources of Richmond, WA, is enthusiastic. “We are proud to have the support of Congress. This off-planet economy will forever change our lives for the better here on Earth,” president and chief engineer Chris Lewicki said this week.
To explore Planetary Resources’ mission, visit
PlanetaryResources.com.
(Note from editor: To mark CMJ’s 100th anniversary in 1979, we published an issue devoted to future mining technologies. One of the articles considered mining the moon.)
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