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Science & Technology
It begins: the 'ASTEROIDS Act'
2014-09-13

To promote the development of a commercial asteroid re-
sources industry for outer space in the United States
and to increase the exploration and utilization of asteroid
resources in outer space.

IN GENERAL.-- Subtitle V of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 513 -- ASTEROID RESOURCE EXPLORATION AND UTILIZATION

..shall --

(1) facilitate the commercial exploration and utilization of asteroid resources to meet national needs;

(2) discourage government barriers to the development of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for the exploration and utilization of asteroid resources in outer space in manners consistent with the existing international obligations of the United States;

(3) promote the right of United States commercial entities to explore and utilize resources from asteroids in outer space, in accordance with the existing international obligations of the United States, free from harmful interference, and to transfer or sell such resources;

and

(4) develop the frameworks necessary to meet the international obligations of the United States.


Legal framework
(a) PROPERTY RIGHTS. Any resources obtained in outer space from an asteroid are the property of the entity that obtained such resources, which shall be entitled to all property rights thereto, consistent with applicable provisions of Federal law.

(b) FREEDOM FROM HARMFUL INTERFERENCE.
As between any entities over which the United States can exercise jurisdiction, any assertion of superior right to execute specific commercial asteroid resource utilization activities in outer space shall prevail if it is found to be first in time, derived upon a reasonable basis, and in accordance with all existing international obligations of the United States.

(c) SAFETY OF OPERATIONS. A United States commercial asteroid resource utilization entity shall avoid harmful interference to other spacecraft.

(d) RELIEF FROM HARMFUL INTERFERENCE. A United States commercial asteroid resource utilization entity may bring an action for appropriate legal or equitable relief, or both, under this chapter for any action, by another private entity, compromising the right to conduct its operations free of harmful interference.

(e) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION. The district courts of the United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction of an action under this chapter without regard to the amount in controversy.
Posted by:3dc

#9   and cause just about everything from Langley to Baltimore to be destroyed.

I'm trying to see the downside here.

(and btw, thanks guys!)
Posted by: SteveS   2014-09-13 21:20  

#8  #6 The mass loss was the part I was wondering about. You probably don't need a lot at the end given what I understand to be a V on the order of miles/second

That's why it would be better to use a comet, and increase the speed substantially. A plasma "bubble" will form around the comet, greatly reducing the ablation. Of course, any comet large enough to make it through the atmosphere would have an impact measured in very large multiples of megatonnage, and cause just about everything from Langley to Baltimore to be destroyed. Kinda like nuclear hand grenades.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2014-09-13 20:37  

#7  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment
Posted by: 3dc   2014-09-13 18:38  

#6  The mass loss was the part I was wondering about. You probably don't need a lot at the end given what I understand to be a V on the order of miles/second
Posted by: SteveS   2014-09-13 16:25  

#5  Ev = M * V **2.
figure out the E you need for eliminating the building, chose an appropriate V for your approaching asteroid and solve for M with some loss factor.
Posted by: 3dc   2014-09-13 15:50  

#4  It clearly states that gold would belong to the company whose asteroid hit the Joint Session.

I'm glad we cleared that up. Dibs on the wreckage.

Given that a substantial portion of an asteroid ablates on entering the atmosphere, I wonder how large a body you need to start with to end up with enough mass to destroy a large building? Purely a question of scientific curiosity.
Posted by: SteveS   2014-09-13 15:40  

#3  Isn't any asteroid that hits a politician solid gold?
Posted by: Mike N.   2014-09-13 15:27  

#2  
This doesn't say anything a solid gold asteroid hitting a Joint Session of Congress while being addressed by the President, does it?


It clearly states that gold would belong to the company whose asteroid hit the Joint Session.
Posted by: 3dc   2014-09-13 12:57  

#1  This doesn't say anything a solid gold asteroid hitting a Joint Session of Congress while being addressed by the President, does it?
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418    2014-09-13 12:54  

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