PROSPECT COMMERCIAL ROUTES IN THE EARTH-MOON SYSTEM'S SERVICE VOLUME

摘要

The analyses of samples gathered during Moon exploration missions, together with several orbital prospections, have shown that the composition of Lunar soil and rocks have in some cases a higher concentration of minerals compared to Earth's. In a foreseeable near-future scenario in which space is a crucial element of the economic system, the mining industry may find useful and more affordable extracting raw materials and resources from the Moon. In addition, processing resources in a microgravity environment in Low Lunar Orbit (LLO) or in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) could result in high performance products with respect to the transformation industry. Thus, it is possible to imagine a commercial flow of resources and goods between Earth and LEO as consequence of current research. The scenario given in this work foresees a developed market in the Earth-Moon System, in which resources such as water, minerals, processed materials, parts, components, subsystems, systems and final products are gathered, processed, produced, traded and therefore transported among the main hubs, namely Earth, LEO, LLO and the Moon. This paper analyses a possible link between technical and economic aspects of future trades in the aforementioned system, a regulatory framework based on the existing International and national space laws is also analysed to sustain the proposed model.