Space Mining Research Articles

Applying similar modeling to study vehicle exhaust transport in a confined mining space

To scientifically and effectively manage exhaust pollution in underground confined spaces and reduce hazards from personnel exhaust exposure, a systematic study of the distribution characteristics of diesel locomotive exhaust emissions in mines is needed. Aiming at large underground coal mining operations, an experimental platform for the physical simulation of vehicle exhaust transport in restricted spaces is designed and created. The Hongliulin Coal Mine in Shaanxi Province, China, is used as a prototype, and the platform consists of a coal mining face system, ventilation system, exhaust emission system, monitoring and surveillance system, and control platform. The experimental platform with carbon dioxide simulation of diesel exhaust pollution, in the role of different wind speed, the concentration of carbon dioxide is a downward trend, the wind speed is in the low wind speed on the 0.2 m of the concentration difference of 25.75%; the experimental platform exhaust transport process presents a clear “three-zone” change rule; experimental platform carbon dioxide concentration and the field nitrogen dioxide concentration change trend is consistent. The platform functions and features can provide guidance for mine exhaust management and exhaust exposure hazard prevention and control.

Rotation state, colors, and albedo of the mission-accessible tiny near-Earth asteroid 2001 QJ142

Context. Characterizing mission-accessible asteroids using telescopic observations is fundamental for target-selection and planning for spacecraft missions. Near-Earth asteroids on Earth-like orbits are of particular importance for applications such as asteroid mining. Aims. 2001 QJ142 is a tiny (D ≤ 100 m) near-Earth asteroid on an Earth-like orbit with a semimajor axis of 1.06 au, orbital eccentricity of 0.09, and orbital inclination of 3.10°. We aim to characterize 2001 QJ142 using ground-based observations with future spacecraft missions in mind. Methods. We performed visible multicolor photometry of 2001 QJ142 using the TriCCS on the Seimei 3.8 m telescope in February 2024. We also revisited the images taken with the Suprime-Cam on the Subaru 8.2 m telescope in August 2012. Results. Visible color indices of 2001 QJ142 indicate that 2001 QJ142 is a C- or X-complex asteroid. We detect a possible fast rotation with a period of about 10 min, which is consistent with a previous report. The geometric albedo of 2001 QJ142 is derived to be about 0.3 from a slope of its photometric phase curve, which is consistent with an albedo derived from thermal observations with updated physical quantities. A straightforward interpretation is that 2001 QJ142 is either an E- or M-type asteroid, although surface properties of such tiny fast-rotating asteroids are not well understood. Conclusions. We infer that 2001 QJ142 is a fast-rotating mission-accessible E- or M-type near-Earth asteroid. More characterizations of tiny asteroids are particularly important for a deeper understanding of their nature.

SPACE RESOURCES: A NEW BALANCE OF INTERESTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Purpose: the Art. II of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST), which prohibits national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, use or occupation, is a jus cogens norm and has become a guarantee of peace in space, as well as the basis of international space law. In opposition, the creation of national legislations that allow the appropriation of space resources to their citizens, the advance of the private sector in space activities all over the world, the initiative to create the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), and The Artemis Accords, put the interpretation of this fundamental principle under debate. In the 21st century, the proliferation of new space missions of public-private nature has created feasible commercial opportunities, such as space mining. All of this has deepened the debate within the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) on the need (or not) for elaborate new legal definitions and a legal regime for space resources. For this, it’s necessary to generate a unified interpretation by the States based on the "balance of interests" principle. Research methods: study of specialized bibliography and national and international legislations, observation methods and analysis of information related to space activities. Results: in this article it will be evaluated whether it’s possible to establish a new global legal interpretation of Art. II of the OST of 1967 to allow the harmonization of private and public interests. Discussion: the Artemis Accords, the ILRS and the national legislations of States that currently allow their citizens to appropriate space resources are, in fact and in practice, the spearhead of NewSpace and their main characteristic is that they are initiatives carried out outside UNCOPUOS. What would happen if soon, in a hypothetical case, The Artemis Accords and the ILRS project were to have more than a hundred signatory States in total?

Precise motion control for a space mining robot based on improved African vultures optimization

Space mining robots can develop and utilize abundant mineral resources in the outer space to solve the problem of the depletion of earth mineral resources. However, the motion errors of space mining robots in complex environments on the outer space surface of asteroids greatly hinder its applications. To bridge this research gap, a precise motion controller of the space mining robot is proposed in this study. Firstly, the kinematics model of robot’s wheels and the whole vehicle dynamics model in soft soil are established. Then, the optimal PID motion controller is developed based on the improved African vultures optimization algorithm (IAVOA). The Henon chaotic mapping, nonlinear adaptive incremental inertial weight factor and reverse learning competition strategy are introduced to optimize the initial population position, position update method and optimal solution output, respectively. Meanwhile, the excellent optimization performance of IAVOA is also validated by test results of nine benchmark functions. Lastly, the performance of controller is verified by simulations and experiments. The simulation results show that the proposed IAVOA-PID controller is superior to the original PID and AVOA-PID controller with faster response time and smaller overshoot. The experiment results show the space mining robot with the assistance of proposed motion controller can move with a trajectory error of less than 0.2 m and a motion error of less than 0.01 m.

A Geophysical-Drilling-Hydrochemical Coupled Method for Accurate Detection of Concealed Water-Conducting Faults in Coal Mines

The detection of concealed water-conducting structures is essential for preventing water inrush disasters. Aiming to mitigate the limitations inherent in using any single technique, a comprehensive approach that combines integrated mining geophysical exploration, hydrogeological drilling, and hydrochemical exploration (GDH) is proposed for the exploration of concealed water-conducting structures. By conducting a thorough analysis of the background geological data obtained through surface exploration, potentially concealed water-conducting structures can be predicted. Then, a combination of the seismic reflection method (SRM) and mine transient electromagnetic method (MTEM) can be used to detect the location and water-bearing properties of the target structures. Afterwards, the target drilling areas are defined by the anomalies detected by the integrated mine geophysical technique, and the drilling method can directly acquire the hydrogeological information of water-conducting structures and verify the results of the geophysical methods. By means of hydrochemical analysis, inrush water sources and their runoff conditions can be identified, and the spatial relationship betweenof the source aquifers and mining space can be determined; hence, the properties, scale, and configuration of the water-conducting structures can finally be evaluated. Employing a water-conducting fault in a mine as a case study, we verified that the integrated method overcomes the limitations and possible biases of each method, providing a multiple-method solution that can accurately detect concealed water-conducting structures to help prevent water inrush disasters.

Study of the development patterns of water-conducting fracture zones under karst aquifers and the mechanism of water inrush

The hydrogeological conditions of the Qianbei coalfield are complex, and karst water in the roof rock frequently disrupts mining operations, leading to frequent water inrush incidents. Taking the representative Longfeng Coal Mine as a case study, research was conducted on the development pattern of the water-conducting fracture zone and the water inrush mechanisms beneath karst aquifers. On the basis of key stratum theory and calculations of the stratum stretching rate, the karst aquifer in the Changxing Formation was identified as the primary key stratum. It was deduced that the water-conducting fracture zone would develop into the karst aquifer, indicating a risk of roof water inrush at the working face. Numerical simulations were used to study the stress field, displacement field, and plastic zone distribution patterns in the overlying roof strata. Combined with similar simulation tests and digital speckle experiments, the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the water-conducting fracture zone were investigated. During the coal mining process, the water-conducting fracture zone will exhibit a "step-type" development characteristic, with the fracture morphology evolving from vertical to horizontal. Near the goaf boundary, the strain gradually decreases, and the instability of the primary key stratum significantly impacts the mining space below, leading to the closure of interlayer voids or the redistribution of water-conducting fissure patterns. Field measurements of the water-conducting fracture zone reveal that postmining roof fractures can be classified into tensile-shear, throughgoing, and discrete types, with decreasing water-conducting capacity in that order, the measured development height of the water-conducting fracture zone (51 m) aligns closely with the theoretical height (51.37 m) and the numerical simulation height (49.17 m). Finally, from the perspective of key stratum instability, the disaster mechanisms of dynamic water inrush and hydrostatic pressure water inrush beneath the karst aquifers in the northern Guizhou coalfield were revealed. The findings provide valuable insights for water prevention and control efforts in the Qianbei coalfield mining area.

Exploring the Scope of Solar Power for Asteroid Mining and Resource Collection Missions

Exploring the Scope of Solar Power for Asteroid Mining and Resource Collection Missions

Space mining: a review of current research and developments

Space mining: a review of current research and developments

Designing a concurrent detumbling and redirection mission for asteroid mining purposes via optimization

Designing a concurrent detumbling and redirection mission for asteroid mining purposes via optimization

The Outer Space Regime of Property Rights through the Lens of the Third World: Towards a Copernican Revolution from Anthropocentrism to Cosmocentrism

As the scarcity of resources on Earth becomes more evident, the financial promise of space mining has recently fostered interests among both private and public actors, raising the issue of property rights in outer space. This article considers this subject matter through the prism of Third World Approaches to International Law and aims to uncover the extent to which a logic of domination currently underpins space exploration. It shows that International Space Law has historically served as an experimenting field for legal concepts that challenge the traditional logic of international law. However, conventional power dynamics have regained control, undermining the original equitable potential of the international legal framework governing property in outer space. This is also evidenced by the rhetoric of space exploration, which tacitly implies Western primacy in resource extraction and marginalises the history of the Third World. Against this backdrop, this paper calls for a new legal regime balancing the needs of the Third World with the investment of spacefaring countries and for a redefinition of space sustainability. This would entail a Copernican Revolution regarding our approach to space exploration – shifting from anthropocentrism to cosmocentrism.

Experimental Study on Permeability Characteristics of Compacted Backfill Body after Gangue Grouting and Backfilling in the Mining Space

Experimental Study on Permeability Characteristics of Compacted Backfill Body after Gangue Grouting and Backfilling in the Mining Space

Similar experimental study on diffusion and distribution of diesel exhaust in confined space of a coal mine.

In the confined space of the underground coal mine, which is dominated by transportation lanes, explosion-proof diesel-powered trackless rubber-wheeled vehicles are becoming the main transportation equipment, and the exhaust gas produced by them is hazardous to the health of workers and pollutes the underground environment. In this experiment, a similar test platform is built to study the effects of wind speed, vehicle speed, and different wind directions on the diffusion characteristics of exhaust gas. In this paper, CO and SO2 are mainly studied. The results show that the diffusion of CO and SO2 gas is similar and the maximum SO2 concentration only accounts for 11.4% of the CO concentration. Exhaust gas is better diluted by increasing the wind speed and vehicle speed, respectively. Downwind is affected by the reverse wind flow and diffuses to the driver's position, which is easy to cause occupational diseases. When the wind is a headwind, the exhaust gases spread upwards and make a circumvention movement, gathering at the top. When the wind speed and vehicle speed are both 0.6m/s, the CO concentration corresponds to the change trend of the Lorentz function when the wind is downwind and the CO concentration corresponds to the change trend of the BiDoseResp function when the wind is headwind. The study of exhaust gas diffusion characteristics is of great significance for the subsequent purification of the air in the restricted mine space and the protection of the workers' occupational health.

Breaking law of overburden rock and key mining technology for narrow coal pillar working face in isolated island

When conducting retreat mining in segmented coal pillars, the dynamic evolution of stress and overlying strata structure is more complex than conventional working faces due to the influence of adjacent working faces. Understanding and mastering the dynamic evolution patterns of overlying strata structure after retreat mining in segmented coal pillar working faces is essential for guiding the safe recovery of coal pillar resources under similar conditions. Through statistical analysis of the types of residual coal and the mining techniques, the current research status of residual coal mining system in China has been summarized. Based on the safety recovery technology system for multi-type residual coal pillar resources at Zhaogu No.2 Mine, this paper focuses on narrow coal pillar working faces in sections with fully mined-out areas on both sides. By using research methods such as on-site measurement, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and engineering experiments, starting from the stress state analysis and evolution law of coal seam mining, the dynamic evolution law of the overlying rock structure of sectional coal pillars has been mastered. On this basis, a stress arch mechanical model of the mining area is constructed, and the working resistance of the support is calculated and determined, ensuring the safe recovery of the working face. The research results show that before the backfilling of the sectional coal pillar working face, the working face is affected by the overlapping mining of the goaf on both sides, presenting a “bimodal” stress distribution pattern, with a stress concentration coefficient between 1.78 and 3.2. After the extraction of segmented coal pillars, stress arches consisting of high-stress zones form along both the strike and dip of the working face. The structural support provided by stress arches undergoes a dynamic evolution process of “formation-development-elevation-stabilization” as the working face advances. Following the instability and rupture of the lower basic roof hinge structure, the stress-bearing structure shifts to the higher basic roof, continuing to provide support for the surrounding rock stress in the mining space of the working face. A stress arch mechanical model for the dip and strike of the mining area is constructed , and the shape characteristics of the overlying rock stress arch in the coal pillar working face is mastered. Based on the stress distribution law and stress arch evolution characteristics of the surrounding rock of the coal pillar working face, the maximum working resistance of the support in the working face is theoretically calculated to be 9153.48kN. Compared with the measured mine pressure data, the selected support effectively ensures the safety production of the working face.

Space and cybersecurity: Challenges and opportunities emerging from national strategy narratives

Modern societies are increasingly dependent on space technology. The number of activities that rely on space infrastructure includes global positioning and communications systems, financial transactions and global trade, public and private scientific research, environmental monitoring and fore-casting, and audio-visual entertainment. Within the security and defence domain, this reliance becomes even more pronounced as satellites enhance command, control, communications and intelligence, surveillance, and recon-naissance (C4ISR), missile defence, or advanced autonomous systems. Furthermore, ongoing advancements in science and technology are opening new frontiers in outer space, promising significant economic potential through ventures like space travel and space mining. Considering the geopolitical implications of the dependence on space technology, the objective of this study is to examine how Western countries and organizations understand space within their strategic thinking. By conducting a comparative analysis of the most recent national security strategies and security and defence space strategies released by a sample of Western countries and organizations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the European Union and NATO, this study aims to discern the narratives employed to depict the space domain and to identify the key trends within it, with a specific focus on the interplay between space and cybersecurity.This exercise will facilitate the identification of areas where enhanced collaboration among the selected actors is feasible or where competition may define their relationships. Consequently, it will help determine the potential for a coordinated response to collective challenges.

Asteroid mining vs the carbon bubble: ethical considerations for space resource extraction

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the ethical and environmental implications of allowing space resource extraction to disrupt existing fuel economies, including how companies can be held accountable for ensuring the responsible use of their space assets. It will also briefly consider how such assets should be taxed, and the cost/benefit analyses required to justify the considerable expense of supporting this emerging space industry.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts theoretical bioethics methodologies to explore issues of normative ethics and the formulation of moral rules to govern individual, collective and institutional behaviour. Specifically, it considers social justice and social contract theory, consequentialist and deontological accounts of ethical evaluation. It also draws on sociological and organisational literature to discuss Dowling and Pfeffer’s (1975) and Suchman’s (1995) theories of pragmatic, cognitive and moral legitimacy as they may be applied to off-world mining regulations and the handling of space assets.FindingsThe findings of this conceptual paper indicate there is both a growing appetite for tighter resource extraction regulations to address climate change and wealth concentration globally, and an opportunity to establish and legitimise new ethical norms for commercial activity in space that can avoid some of the challenges currently facing fossil fuel divestment movements on Earth.Originality/valueBy adopting methodologies from theoretical bioethics, sociology and business studies, including applying a legitimacy lens to the issue of off-world mining, this paper synthesises existing knowledges from these fields and brings them to the new context of the future space resource economy.

FT_HTlist: A fault-tolerant frequent itemset mining algorithm based on the linear table

This paper proposes a fault-tolerant frequent itemset mining algorithm (FT_HTlist) based on the linear table when the fault-tolerance is 1. The algorithm uses the method of concatenating 1 in the highest bit of the binary number of the known fault-tolerant frequent patterns to generate the candidate fault_tolerant patterns, called FT_Candidate. The algorithm is based on the data structure of the linear table for fault-tolerant frequent itemset mining. This method does not need recursion, so it reduces the consumption of mining space. At the same time, the paper proposed a deduplication algorithm to remove the support for repeat calculations. So the algorithm has a strong advantage in spatial performance. In addition, the algorithm only needs to mine two horizontal chains of the FT_Candidate, thus reducing the consumption of mining time. Finally, the paper shows the time performance and space performance of the proposed algorithm under sparse datasets and dense datasets. The results show that our algorithm has better mining time than other algorithms, and the horizontal chain reduces the memory occupation of the algorithm.

Review on quarrying methods suitable for space mining missions

Review on quarrying methods suitable for space mining missions

Unlocking the future of space resource management through satellite remote sensing and AI integration

This scientific study investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite remote sensing could work together to transform space resource management. As human activity in space continues to expand, the effective and sustainable utilization of celestial resources is of paramount importance. It begins by highlighting the evolution of space exploration and the growing interest in resource extraction beyond Earth's boundaries. It emphasizes the critical role of resource management for the success of future space missions.Advances in technology in recent times, including the implementation of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and self-governing mining systems, have significantly enhanced the possibility of extracting resources from celestial entities. While the economic feasibility of space mining is compelling, environmental concerns, sustainability, and intricate governance challenges necessitate careful examination.An approach for comprehending the complex field of space resource management is presented in this research. It delineates a clear roadmap of its content, offering a succinct summary of key objectives and sections, facilitating reader comprehension. The methodology includes a literature review of relevant research materials from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar sources. It investigates celestial bodies' resource potential, main challenges, and environmental implications.Preliminary contributions include one analysis of the potential applications of satellite remote sensing and AI technologies in mitigating these challenges, highlighting their pivotal roles in resource identification and management, proposing terrestrial solutions applicable to space resource management. The integration of AI into space resource management is discussed, emphasizing its potential to enhance safety protocols, resource allocation, and overall efficiency. Furthermore, it discusses international agreements and treaties governing space exploration and resource utilization while advocating for cooperation among space-faring nations and stakeholders. It concludes discussing the implications, benefits, challenges, areas requiring further attention, and future directions of integrating these technologies in space resource management.

Research on Collapse Detection in Old Coal Mine Goafs Based on Space–Sky–Earth Remote Sensing Survey

A considerable number of coal mines employed room and pillar mining in the last century in northern China, where the goaf remained stable for a period of time; however, with the increased exposure of coal pillars, their collapse may gradually increase. The stability assessment of these old rooms and pillar goafs is challenging due to their concealment, irregular mining patterns, and the long passage of time. The methodology developed in this study, based on “space-sky-earth” remote sensing such as InSAR to trace historical deformation, the UAV observation of current surface damage, and comparison of mining spaces, can rapidly detect on a large scale the collapse of old goafs and the trend of damage. This study is conducted with an example of a coal mine in Yulin, Northern China, where obtained quantitative surface deformation values were integrated with qualitative surface damage interpretation results, followed by a yearly analysis of the overlying rock movement in accordance with the underground coal mining process. The results show that from 2007 to 2021, corresponding surface deformation and damage occurred following mining progress. However, the room and pillar goaf areas had not undergone any surface deformation, nor had there been incidents of landslides or ground fissures; therefore, it was speculated that no roof collapse had occurred in this region. The surface deformation and damage associated with underground coal mining are complex and influenced by the coal seam occurrence, mining methods, strata lithology, terrain slope, temporal evolution, and anthropogenic modifications. These phenomena are representative of the coal mining area, and this methodology can provide a reference for similar endeavors.

Integrating outer space as a global commons with private property rights to outer space resources

Inspired by the US government’s denial that outer space is a global commons, and the heated discussion in China regarding property rights in outer space resources, this article looks at this controversial term: “global commons”. It finds that this term was mostly adopted as a political, rather than legal, term. As a result of the over-emphasis on the implications of global commons on the property rights to outer space resources, states that plan to develop private space mining may avoid calling outer space a global commons. This article argues that this response may not be necessary. It then examines the real purpose of the global commons discourse by analogizing the tragedy of commons and thus puts forward the suggestion to adopt the non-exclusive use standard to govern the activities of space resource extraction by private parties. This solution will allow countries to continue to view outer space as a global commons while liberalizing private parties’ activities in outer space resource development and extraction. Moreover, China’s initiative of the global community of shared future possesses the potential to serve as the overarching concept to govern its future outer space activities, including space mining.