Space Mining Challenges: Expertise of the Polish Entities and International Perspective on Future Exploration Missions

Abstract

This paper presents the expertise of the Polish entities regarding space mining in the context of international initiatives and plans for future space exploration missions. The study indicates fundamental research problems, obstacles in space mining development, and challenges in space-oriented R&D projects. The paper refers to the strategic documents of major national agencies, and to the European and global trends in space exploration, especially regarding drilling, prospecting, and utilization of extraterrestrial resources. An overview on recent and on-going space exploration missions is provided. The paper also briefly describes the competences of the Polish industry in disciplines associated with space mining and the current participation of the Polish entities in space mining projects. Economic aspects, intellectual property issues, and space law questions with respect to the exploitation of extraterrestrial resources are also discussed.