338 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
a first-of-kind accomplishment for mankind. This will
require answering many questions that must be resolved
before Earth based corporations will invest in developing
lunar assets. Five high level question, and there are many
more, that should be considered are given below:
• Will an environmental impact statement (EIS) be
needed prior to developing a commercial scale lunar
mining operation? Who will require, review and
approve an EIS for the Moon?
• How will the extent of mineral rights be established
and by who? Will this be outright ownership, a
lease, or other agreements? Will this be on a PSR by
PSR basis or will there be multiple regions allocated
within a large PSR?
• Will profits from the sale of extracted and processed
lunar water to space-based clients be taxed and by
who?
• Will there be regulations and standards related to
developing and operating a commercial mining
operation that require compliance? Will terrestrial
regulations and standards apply?
• Is the existing terrestrial legal system adequate to
address issues arising on the Moon, or will a new
legal system need to be developed?
Figure 14. AQUA FACTOREM electro-mechanical extractions methods
a first-of-kind accomplishment for mankind. This will
require answering many questions that must be resolved
before Earth based corporations will invest in developing
lunar assets. Five high level question, and there are many
more, that should be considered are given below:
• Will an environmental impact statement (EIS) be
needed prior to developing a commercial scale lunar
mining operation? Who will require, review and
approve an EIS for the Moon?
• How will the extent of mineral rights be established
and by who? Will this be outright ownership, a
lease, or other agreements? Will this be on a PSR by
PSR basis or will there be multiple regions allocated
within a large PSR?
• Will profits from the sale of extracted and processed
lunar water to space-based clients be taxed and by
who?
• Will there be regulations and standards related to
developing and operating a commercial mining
operation that require compliance? Will terrestrial
regulations and standards apply?
• Is the existing terrestrial legal system adequate to
address issues arising on the Moon, or will a new
legal system need to be developed?
Figure 14. AQUA FACTOREM electro-mechanical extractions methods