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Regulate space mining before it's too late, says Canadian geologist

Some look at the moon and see precious resources ready to be mined — and it's not just the stuff of science fiction. Experts say space mining is definitely on its way, and here on Earth, we need to develop space mining regulations before it's too late.
CBC Radio ·
Last week at the Canadian Institute of Mining's Annual Convention, geologist Joe Hinzer made waves by calling for a space mining regulatory body. (ESA)

Some look at the moon and see precious resources ready to be mined — and it's not just the stuff of science fiction. Experts say space mining is definitely on its way, and here on Earth, we need to develop space mining regulations before it's too late.

Last week at the Canadian Institute of Mining's Annual Convention, geologist Joe Hinzer made waves by calling for a space mining regulatory body.

Mr. Joe Hinzer is the President of the mining consultancy firm Watts, Griffis and McOuat. To find out more, we reached him in Fonthill, Ontario.

When it comes to the prospect of actually setting up regulations for mining in space, it's safe to say regulators would be boldly going where none have gone before.

To find out what's involved in that process, we reached two guests who have been considering the issue:

  • Joanne Gabrynowicz is a space lawyer and a Professor Emerita at the University of Mississippi School of Law. We reached her in Cincinnati. 
  • Molly Macauley is the Vice-President for Research at Resources for the Future, a not-for-profit group in Washington, D.C. 

This segment was produced by The Current's Shannon Higgins, Natalie Walters and Julian Uzielli.

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