Study space resources at top-ranking institution in the field of mining engineering

                                                   
                                                        The Colorado School of Mines
                             ( currently listed in the QS World University Rankings by subject
                          as the top institution in the world for mineral and mining engineering)
                                                  has made the following announcement:

                                                   "Mines is planning to launch in 2018
                                  a multi-disciplinary graduate program in Space Resources
                         to offer a Post-Baccalaureate certificate and a Master of Science degree
                         for college graduates and professionals interested in this emerging arena.
                              Qualified students who want to pursue research through a Ph.D.
                                     in collaborating departments at Mines are also sought."
                           
                                                        Link to: Colorado School of Mines

                                (The Colorado School of Mines is obviously not a newcomer
                                                      in the field of space resource studies
                                 as -for example- various publications by Richard E. Gertsch
                                                         like the one of January 1st 1992
                                                               entitled "Asteroid Mining"
                                                                   clearly demonstrate.)
                                                         Link to: "Asteroid Mining" (1992)

Is Luxembourg's new space mining law legal or not?

                                                           
                                                              ... that is the question!

                                               Link to: Article published by INVERSE.COM

                                         Link to: "Luxembourg space exploration laws criticised"
                                                        (Link to: Original French version)


                                        Link to (indirectly) related older article from NEW ATLAS

The multi-faceted benefits of astrobiology

                                                       
                                                             In a recent article entitled
                        "Why looking for aliens is good for society (even if there aren’t any)"
                                             Professor Ian Crawford captivatingly highlights
                                              the richly variegated potential of Astrobiology
                                                  as a most valuable 21st-century means
             "to broaden minds in such a way as to make the world less fragmented and dangerous".

                                        Link to: Ian Crawford's article in "THE CONVERSATION"

Anybody prepared to meet Asteroid 2012 TC4 ?

                                                      Could this not be the time
                                               for a bit of space harvesting practice
                                                  as on October 12th of this year
                                         Asteroid 2012 TC4  is expected to pass Earth
                                         at a distance of perhaps only 7000 kilometers?

                                   Link to: Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS)

Luxembourg's new law on the exploration and use of space resources

                                     This law will come into force on August 1, 2017.
                                                              It explicitly states
                            "Les ressources de l’espace sont susceptibles d’appropriation
                                             en conformité avec le droit international"
         and it "establishes the procedures for authorizing and supervising space exploration missions".

                                                     Link to: "SpaceResources.lu"

                             The English translation of the draft law is now available online.

            Link to: DRAFT LAW ON THE EXPLORATION AND USE OF SPACE RESOURCES


                       As Planetary Resources have formulated it in their latest press release
                        "Luxembourg is the first European country to have a legal framework
                                         recognising the right to space-based resources
                         that they have extracted in compliance with existing international law,
                                             most notably the 1967 Outer Space Treaty."
                                      Link to: "Space Mining Law Passes In Luxembourg"

"Giuseppe should soon be whirling towards Mercury"

                                         Watching Bepicolombo's gravity-assist itinerary
                                                     to the planet closest to the Sun
                                                       might well make some of us
                                                              feel a little bit dizzy.

                           Link to: "ESA Science; BEPICOLOMBO'S JOURNEY TO MERCURY"
                                  Link to: "Giuseppe 'Bepi' Colombo: Grandfather of the fly-by"

Reflection on Asteroid Deflection

                                                            Unlike the dinosaurs
                                                              the human species
                                                                is at least trying
                                                                 to keep an eye
                                            on those potentially very nasty space rocks.


                                   Link to: "Are asteroids humanity's 'greatest challenge'?"