VALUE OF RESOURCES: Recipe for In-Situ Resource Utilization on Space Frontiers
Day: Tuesday 15 October
Time: 13:45 - 14:45 CEST
Location: Auditorium, Level 3, South Wing, MiCo Convention Centre
This plenary puts its focus on the latest developments and the future of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) to seek a way how space frontiers could be expanded through international cooperation and to provide opportunities for continuous discussions towards sustainable and responsible space exploration by stirring imagination of present and future generations in space community.
The habitation on the Moon and Mars requires consumables such as oxygen, water, propellant and construction materials in large quantities. While the International Space Station is dependent on regular resupply from the Earth, the same cannot be applied to the long-term presence on the deep space destinations in that the long-range transportation would cost plenty of time and money, involving a risk of catastrophic mishaps during its operations.
The panel discusses what could be done to realize the situation where essential consumables and materials are produced from local resources on the Moon and Mars from the standpoint of technical practicability and economic rationality. The session mainly consists of three parts: short presentations by several professionals who stand at the forefront of space exploration, followed by panel discussion and Q&A session. The short presentations and panel discussion cover a wide variety of subjects ranging from up-to-date developments of ISRU research activities including interagency cooperation to technical and legal challenges. The discussion turns to how practical plans could be formulated to encourage private investment in ISRU activities on space frontiers and how the emerging space countries and start-up companies can be involved. The panelists from various backgrounds including government officials and experts with great insights into policymaking, space economy and technology roadmapping, would discuss the practicability of in-space resource utilization from the technical and economical perspective, and the strategic plan to ensure long-term sustainability of outer space activities driven by international cooperation.
