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From: Dale.Amon@FAS.RI.CMU.EDU
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Private Space Miners
Message-ID: <8510291721.AA00286@s1-b.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 12:46:26 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8510291721.AA00286
Posted: Tue Oct 29 12:46:26 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Nov-85 01:23:19 EST
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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.

I don't know where you've been if you think private spaceflight is illegal.
And I'm sure the people at the space commercialization office at DOT would
be equally surprised.

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.

Actually, I don't honestly know how real the funding is. I've been trying to
get hold of Gary to find out, but I haven't gotten a call back yet. I'd also
guess the first flight will be several years late and will cost twice as
much as expected to develop, build and operate. But even then, it will fly
economic circles around anything the turkeys at NASA or DOD are up to.

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!!!