Space Mining Research Articles

Radiation Fields and Safety Zones for Nuclear Systems on Planetary Surfaces

There is increasing government and private sector interest in sending astronauts and advanced robotic equipment to the Moon for lunar exploration, space mining, and commerce. Space nuclear technologies, including both radioisotope and fission energy, are enabling technologies that could support such activities through lunar night survival and high-energy activities like space mining. Both NASA’s flagship Artemis program and China’s International Lunar Research Station aim to send astronauts to the lunar surface within a decade, and eventually establish a base. The potential for astronauts from multiple countries and companies to operate near space nuclear systems makes radiation safety an important technical and policy consideration for nuclear system developers and mission planners. However, there is relatively limited norms, standards, or guidance about how to safety site and operate space nuclear systems in proximity to astronauts on planetary surfaces. This paper proposes the development of the “radiation field” concept to represent the radiation emissions from space nuclear systems and facilitate their incorporation in lunar policy and mission planning. It reviews potential dose thresholds for different zones and proposes using the safety zone policy mechanism proposed by the international Artemis Accords to communicate radiation field information. Its findings provide the initial basis for developing radiation safety practices for astronauts on the surface of the Moon and Mars.

Out of This World: Tax Challenges and Solutions for the Outer Space Economy

The rapid commercialization of outer space has revealed significant gaps in existing international tax regimes. This article examines the challenges of taxing space-based activities in a stateless domain governed by international non-tax treaties, focusing on satellite operations and space mining. It highlights disparities amongst countries, such as the classification of satellites as permanent establishments and the revenue therefrom as income or royalties, which disparities reflect efforts by developing countries to secure taxing rights over locally sourced economic activities. Space mining presents even greater challenges due to the absence of a global framework, risking unregulated competition and harmful unilateral practices. The article advocates for an international regime similar to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to foster fiscal stability and equity. With regard to Europe, the article notes that policy is lacking and there is a need for Europe to strengthen its fiscal approach to ensure competitiveness and innovation in this area.

Joint response of surface subsidence and strong mine earthquake under high-positioned and thick-hard strata in deep coal mine

Multiple active mining faces and extensive excavations under thick-hard strata in deep coal mines result in frequent strong mine earthquakes, often accompanied by significant surface subsidence deformation. Understanding the specific law of surface movement and the spatiotemporal distribution response to intense mine earthquakes is crucial for effectively preventing and mitigating dynamic disasters in deep mines. Utilizing the key layer theory, the intricate strata of the Yingpanhao Coal Mine are systematically delineated, drawing upon the engineering context of working faces 2201 and 2202 within the Ordos Chemical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Shandong Energy Group. Field investigations are conducted to analyze the law of surface subsidence associated with multi-working face extraction within deep thick-hard strata, as well as to elucidate the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of strong mine earthquakes. Furthermore, the interplay between law of surface subsidence and the spatial distribution of strong mine earthquakes is investigated, revealing a cohesive relationship between these phenomena. The research findings of this study provide certain references for the pre-control of surface subsidence and strong mine earthquakes during multiple working face and large space mining under thick-hard strata in deep coal mine with similar engineering geological conditions.

Asteroid mining: The next frontier for sustainability

This viewpoint explores space mining’s potential, driven by commercial advancements. It reviews asteroid selection and nickel extraction to address tech shortages. Three extraction methods—surface removal, vaporization, and electromagnetic—are analyzed, with a surface removalvaporization combination identified as most effective. Rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and NASA’s SLS are proposed for asteroid missions. The study concludes with an “ideal” mission scenario, emphasizing its economic and environmental benefits.

Current Technological Development Status of the Asteroid Resource Extraction Industry

Asteroid metal mining represents a cutting-edge frontier in space exploration, with Near-Earth asteroids rich in metallic minerals, including nickel, iron, cobalt, and platinum-group elements. Harnessing these extraterrestrial resources holds the potential to mitigate the depletion of Earth’s metal reserves. This review examines the latest advancements in asteroid mining technologies, including techniques such as controlled blasting, precision drilling, and laser-based extraction, alongside post-mining processing methods like conventional separation and refinement, as well as innovative approaches such as space-based bio-mining. Covering the entire spectrum from resource exploration and extraction to refining, these technologies remain at the developmental stage, facing substantial costs and technical hurdles. However, as the space economy continues to expand, asteroid metal mining is poised to emerge as a key sector, driving synergy between space exploration and terrestrial economic growth. This paper evaluates these approaches by analyzing their technical strengths, limitations, and evolving industry trends.

A mining code for regulating lunar water ice mining activities

Despite the increasing number of space launches, growth of the commercial space sector, signing of the Artemis Accords, maturation of space mining technologies, the emergence of a regulatory environment through domestic legislation, and a comprehensive body of international law, an intergovernmental governing authority has yet to be established to manage mining activities on the Moon. We developed a Lunar Mining Code and mapping tool to regulate and manage prospecting and exploration activities for water ice at the Moon’s poles. The Lunar Mining Code is composed of a notification system to manage prospecting, a contract system for issuing exploration licenses to allotted areas on the Moon, and best mining practices and principles to promote equal access and safeguard the lunar environment.

Environmentally Friendly Technologies Of Integrated Open Pit-Underground Mining

Abstract Kryvyi Rih iron ore basin is one of Ukraine’s oldest. Over 150 years of open pit mining has resulted in significant areas of arable land disturbed by open pits, dumps and tailings facilities. In Kryvyi Rih region, operation of open pits, dumps and tailings facilities results in worsened environmental conditions. Deep open pits and high dumps change the topography of the region. Open pits, dumps and tailings facilities not covered with vegetation contribute to bad air pollution by emitting large amounts of dust. To settle the environmental issues and preserve the nature in the basin, gradual transition from the technology of open-pit mining to integrated open pit-underground and subsequent underground mining is developed and proposed. In addition, the present paper addresses one of the main problems of geomechanical stabilization of the rock massif when constructing underground mines in areas of possible influence of open pit fields, and studies issues of controlling the stress-strain state of the rock massif during transition from the open-pit to integrated technology of deposit mining. The research conducted enables substantiation of technologies involving formation of internal waste rock dumps during integrated open pit-underground mining. The paper presents the results of the research on the stress-strain state of the massif during transition from the open-pit to integrated mining technology and proposes environmentally friendly technologies of integrated open pit-underground mining of deposits with waste disposal in the worked out space of underground mines and open pits. The Results Obtained Are Highly Relevant And Very Important In Both Scientific And Practical Fields.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Asteroid Mining Systems: Insights from Optical Mining Bag Materials

This study investigates the thermodynamic behaviors of materials within an optical mining system aimed at extracting water from asteroids. The spacecraft utilizes solar reflectors to concentrate sunlight onto the captured asteroid, initiating the extraction process. The focus lies on analyzing the thermodynamic properties of the asteroid mining bag, constructed with layers of Nomex (outer layer), Kevlar (supporting layer), and a PANI thin film (inner layer). Through a MATLAB Simulink model, a 10-day mining simulation is conducted, revealing the system's capability to extract water at a rate of 77 g/s. Key parameters such as temperature, pressure, heat flow rate, and gas flow rate are measured within the mining bag. Additionally, the study accounts for thermal insulation effects on the asteroid bag and heat losses to the surrounding environment. The thermodynamic equations governing heat transfer, mass conservation, and energy within the asteroid bag are analyzed, providing insights into the efficiency and effectiveness of the mining process. This research contributes to understanding the thermodynamic principles underlying asteroid mining operations and guides future developments in this field.

The Andean “Blue Book” of Dora Mayer: Mining Terror and Coercive Proletarianisation in The Conduct of The Cerro de Pasco Mining Company

The report The Conduct of the Cerro de Pasco Mining Company (1913), by German-Peruvian social activist Dora Mayer, was originally published in English to compete for international attention with Roger Casement’s report on the rubber atrocities perpetrated as part of rubber exploitation in the Amazonian Putumayo region. Mayer exposed the abuses of the US Cerro de Pasco Mining Company in the Peruvian Central Andes, showing the dark side of industrial mining expansion and modernisation at a time when attention was focused on the brutal methods of rubber extraction in the Amazon. This article examines the representation of the Andean industrial mining space in Mayer’s report, focusing on the socio-political and spatial-temporal order of mining terror, which includes the forced proletarianisation of Andean Indigenous peasants. Although The Conduct constitutes a notorious nationalist counterattack against United States imperialism in the Andes, my analysis shows that it is still an unquestionable plea in defence of the ecosocial human rights not only of the Indigenous and mestizo miners, but also of the many foreign workers who were equally abandoned to the zone of exception or “tortured zone” produced by the mining company.

Lunarminer Framework for Nature-Inspired Swarm Robotics in Lunar Water Ice Extraction.

The Lunarminer framework explores the use of biomimetic swarm robotics, inspired by the division of labor in leafcutter ants and the synchronized flashing of fireflies, to enhance lunar water ice extraction. Simulations of water ice extraction within Shackleton Crater showed that the framework may improve task allocation, by reducing the extraction time by up to 40% and energy consumption by 31% in scenarios with high ore block quantities. This system, capable of producing up to 181 L of water per day from excavated regolith with a conversion efficiency of 0.8, may allow for supporting up to eighteen crew members. It has demonstrated robust fault tolerance and sustained operational efficiency, even for a 20% robot failure rate. The framework may help to address key challenges in lunar resource extraction, particularly in the permanently shadowed regions. To refine the proposed strategies, it is recommended that further studies be conducted on their large-scale applications in space mining operations at the Extraterrestrial Environmental Simulation (EXTERRES) laboratory at the University of Adelaide.

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

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

Разработка математической модели деформационного поведения изоляционной перемычки в процессе гидрозакладки горной выработки

Implementing measures to eliminate the negative consequences of soil subsidence during mine workings is an urgent problem. One of the methods to close mine workings not in operation is the technology of hydraulic filling; new types of insulating jumpers are studied in order to improve the technology. To select optimum dimensions of the structural elements, a comprehensive study of the impact of geometry and materials structure on its operability is required. The ANSYS Mechanical APDL software package provides a mathematical model of the deformation behavior of the insulating jumper with step-by-step backfilling of the worked space with a backfill mixture. The model is fully parametrized in accordance with the geometrical dimensions of the structure, the mechanical properties of materials, the space-filling rate, and the backfill mixture properties. This enabled the automation of the process of analysis of the impact of technological solutions and the nature of filling the worked mine space on the operability of load-bearing structural elements. Within the framework of the first approximation, the impact of the bearing frame wall thickness on the waterproof jumper stress-strain state has been evaluated; the behavior of the structure during a step-by-step filling and under instantaneous load has been compared.

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