Mining in Space Could Lead to Conflicts on Earth
Unless there is a profit to be made in space, I don&#x27;t think we&#x27;ll see significant development of space technology. NASA and the other space agencies are chronically underfunded. It&#x27;s true that science probably will have a low priority if we allow private ventures to do in space whatever they like. But right now, science isn&#x27;t doing too well either, so it&#x27;s not obvious to me that commercial space development will be a net negative for science. At least in the early phase of space mining, it seems to me as a layperson that the challenges are very similar to what NASA is researching.<p>Given our poor track record at establishing transnational bodies with actual powers, I wouldn&#x27;t want to wait until the UN Space Mining Commission has worked out rules and can actually enforce them.