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From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Private Space Miners
Message-ID: <2182@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 14:06:05 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2182
Posted: Fri Nov  1 14:06:05 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 06:37:12 EST
References: <8510291721.AA00286@s1-b.ARPA>
Organization: Circle C Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, Ca
Lines: 40

> There is really nothing to stop you from mining the asteroids. Since the US
> (and the USSR) declined to sign the treaty with the 'common heritage'
> clause, there are no restrictions on such utilizations. The only restriction
> is that there can be no 'national expropriation', ie the US cannot plant a
> flag and claim the body.

There is at present a controversy over the 'common heritage' clause
in the law of the sea treaty.  Some interpret it to mean 'owned in
common by all - hands off for private exploitation' others think
it means 'all have equal right to exploit the resource'.
Isn't language wonderful?

...
> There have already been two private test firings of large 'sounding'
> rockets. Two companies are now backed with large amounts of money to develop
> private launch vehicles, one of which is a manned vehicle with the intent of
> taking tourists into space for two day trips. The scuttlebut is that Soceity
> Expeditions has agreed to set up a funding package of up to $280M to back
> Pacific American Launch Services (Gary Hudsen) in design and construction of
> the reusable VTVL-SSTO Phoenix. Vessel is modular and refuelable, so unlike
> the shuttle, it can leave LEO. A Phoenix is projected to cost about the same
> as a 747. Completion supposedly by the early 1990's. Maybe you can book a
> flight to watch NASA put up it's space station.
> 
Tell me more!! And where do I sign up to work long hours at low pay g to
to assure an early seat aboard ('Steward? Me?  Yes, that would be a fine also
job.  How much do I have to pay to be hired?' :-)
...
> And there is another point: given that you can get there and they can't, who
> cares what they say anyway? That's the WHOLE POINT of frontiers!!!

But you do have to come in to 'town' for supplies ...
-- 

E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

'If you can dream it, you can do it'  Walt Disney

This is the obligatory disclaimer of everything. (Including but
not limited to: typos, spelling, diction, logic, and nuclear war)