Mineral industry lobbyists

[Boxy]

Exploitation of Near Earth Asteroids is liable to collapse global mineral markets for rare minerals, such as gold, silver, platinum, and so forth. Are companies like these liable to obstruct development of NEA resources, or are they potential allies in asteroid exploitation and development?

I could imagine sending information requests about what company X is going to do when the market is flooded by readily-accessible gold, for example.

[Rhyshaelkan]

It might make mankind take a whole new look as to on what Standard to base currency. Were a probe to find deposits of said metals. It might behoove said company to keep it under wraps. Quietly utilizing said materials in electronics and such. Building space craft for themselves far cheaper due to not having to buy the gold or platinum at market prices.

Stellar gemstones will be a market too. Under the heat and pressure if asteroidal collisions have the possibility to create quantities of sapphires and rubies were the proper elements there at the time.

Mankind needs to get to space. There is just too much potential out there to turn a blind eye to it. Get better lawyers. And armed guards for your company's installations ;)

[Boxy]

Well, right now the vast majority of the world economies are fiat currencies -- they're only worth as much as people think they're worth. It's slightly more complicated than that, but it eventually comes down to issues of trust.

But yeah, people who hoarded gold and silver stockpiles are royally screwed.

I don't believe there's likely to be high enough pressures for long enough time to develop gemstones. Although high quantities of energy available through solar energy means we could synthesize whatever gemstones we would want. If, of course, the diamond cartels didn't rough up our capsules with billy clubs.

Although that does introduce an interesting concept: sitting on gold stockpiles and making income from making gold just a trickle.

[Phenix]

Boxy,

That is a very interesting topic you have summitted.

From my perception on what lobbying stands for Earth's economy, would depend on controls of finance and goods on Earth only for a minority of powerfull individuals interests. Their aim is to keep their power of contol for generations on Earth's economy. What is their secret motivation behind the scene ... I have no clue.

In the scenario where the Space economy does never interact with Earth's economy or other non economical reasons, I would think they would not be concerned of what happens with Earth's space development. Maybe just to see, they would perhaps inject some finance in the Space development program.

In the scenario where the Space economy does interact with Earth's economy or other non econimical reasons, as you said, the balance of power to control finance and goods could change hands and obstruct the Space develpment program and thus would start an endless economical war on all fronts.

I am an optimistic individual. What I hope is that : in either scenarios the lobbyists are extremely clever individuals and will find a path for their best interest to not obstruct the Space development program. Everything depends on good thinking and commitment on strong economical and other non econimical bases.

For sure mixing materials from Space with those from Earth is certainly not an option in the industrial sectors and services sectors and would also obviously raise Earth's mass and change the ecosystem.

Again, thanks for openening this thread.

[Sirachman]

IMO as long as feasible manufacturing capabilities can be created in space the value of asteroidal materials would be significantly greater if not de-orbited and instead used in orbit etc. Eventually (before very efficient ascent vehicles are created which would void the idea) only biological cargo would need to be transported from earth into space (humans/animals/etc) except for materials not easily mined in space. Everything else could be constructed in space using space mined resources.

As far as flooding the Earths markets with space goods goes as soon as space mining is proven feasible and economical and accessible resources are made known publicly prices will probably drop. I would doubt that actual delivery would be needed before the market would react. People would anticipate the supply increase and it would cause price drops but that’s a given I guess. No matter what however items in orbit would be worth a greater amount in terms of the Earth market since Earth bound suppliers of those same materials would have to factor in launch costs and orbital suppliers would not. Thus there would always be a price discrepancy. This could cover excess difficulties involved with orbital manufacturing if it proves to be more complex at the onset. Ultimately I would bet that orbital manufacturing will win out. For orbital/space residents space goods would be obviously cheaper also yet if there was excess need space goods could be de-orbited to Earth in a cheap manner but only if terrestrial need exceeded orbital need since the cargo loses a large amount of its value upon de-orbit.

[Rhyshaelkan]

cargo loses a large amount of its value upon de-orbit.

This is a very powerful statement. There are commodities that we could return to Terra which would not flood any market. Such as volatiles.

Terra teems with water and organics. But the cost to take them into orbit is prohibitive. If a group such as PERMANENT delivered water to orbital facilities at lesser cost than it would to lift it off Terra. There is a supply and demand market ripe for the plucking.

Sadly the only market currently would be the ISS. Until other governments or organizations started their own efforts. However, if PERMANENT advertised that water could be supplied. It might encourage others to take the leap into space. Since that would mean more cargo space, less weight, less cost.

[Sirachman]

Exactly. Also supplying in-orbit fuel depos would be another market if fuels could be produced from asteroidal resources (and fuel depos seem to be appealing to the augustine commission). Many other services could likely be supplied ultimately leading to in-space manufacture of space components..