Satellitte sollen op déi noost vun den 13'000 Asteroiden ëm d'Äerd fléien, fir Ressourcë wéi Platin, Gold oder Waasser kënne sichen ze goen.

De Projet, dee sech futuristesch liest, wëll e Kader duerstelle fir Betriber an d'Land ze bréngen, déi Recherche maachen an Aktivitéite plangen, fir a spéiderer Zukunft op Asteroiden kënne Weltraumressourcen sichen ze goen.

AUDIO: Asteroid-Mining / De Reportage vum Nico Graf

De Projet, deen um Mëttwoch de Muere vum zoustännege Minister Etienne Schneider presentéiert gouf, ass esou innovativ, datt en der Financial Times och ewell en Artikel wäert war.

Screenshot vum Internetsite vun der Financial Times / © Financial Times

Geplangt ass, datt solle Satellitten op déi noost vun den 13.000 Asteroiden ëm d'Äerd fléien, fir dann do Ressource wéi Platin, Gold oder Waasser kënne sichen ze goen, aus deene kann Energie gemeet ginn. Op dës Manéier bräichten dann och Navetten net méi all Ressource vun der Äerd mat an de Weltall ze huelen, wat natierlech immens opwänneg ass.

Et wëll ee Virreider sinn op deem Plang, also: legislativ, wëssenschaftlech a kommerziell an Europa déi éischt ze sinn, déi Minièren op Asteroiden organiséieren. Dat alles soll op Basis vun PPP, private-public-partnership, geregelt ginn.

AUDIO: Den Etienne Schneider

Et geet drëms, duerch deen neie Kader ënner anerem déi zwee wichtegst amerikanesch Acteuren op Lëtzebuerg ze zéien, woubäi d'Firma Deep Space Industries ewell zejoert eng europäesch Basis am Grand-Duché opgemeet huet.

Bei der anerer Firma handelt et sech ëm Planetary Ressources, woubäi awer keng Vertrieder vun dëse Gruppe wäerte bei der Presentatioun am Wirtschaftsministère mat dobäi sinn.

Et wëll een awer och déi europäesch Industrie op Lëtzebuerg zéien, déi an deem Domaine täteg ass, fir deenen ze weisen, dass Lëtzebuerg ee Schrëtt méi wäit geet, wéi all déi aner europäsche Länner, sou den Etienne Schneider um Mëttwoch de Moien.

Et wëll ee weisen, dass ee sech zu Lëtzebuerg dee cadre legal gëtt, deen hinnen Investitiounssécherheet gëtt, fir an deem dote Beräich aktiv ze ginn.

Et geet also net drëm rar Metallen op Lëtzebuerg ze bréngen, mä et wëll ee spezialiséiert Firmen op Lëtzebuerg lackelen. De Wirtschaftsstanduert Lëtzebuerg huet erfahrungsgeméis ëmmer profitéiert dovun, wann ee Virreider war, sou nach den Etienne Schneider. De beschte Beweis wier do SES-Astra.

AFP: Conquête des astéroïdes : le Luxembourg veut attirer les investisseurs.

Luxembourg to launch framework to support the future use of space resources (03.02.2016)

Communiqué par: ministère de l'Économie Luxembourg, February 3, 2016 – The Luxembourg Government announced a series of measures to position Luxembourg as a European hub in the exploration and use of space resources. Amongst the key steps undertaken, as part of the spaceresources.lu initiative, will be the development of a legal and regulatory framework confirming certainty about the future ownership of minerals extracted in space from Near Earth Objects (NEO's) such as asteroids.

Luxembourg is the first European country to announce its intention to set out a formal legal framework which ensures that private operators working in space can be confident about their rights to the resources they extract, i.e. rare minerals from asteroids. Such a legal framework will be worked out in full consideration of international law. Luxembourg is eager to engage with other countries on this matter within a multilateral framework.

Luxembourg will also invest in relevant R&D projects and consider direct capital investment in companies active in this field.

The SpaceResources.lu initiative will nurture an exciting and entirely new space industry. This industry will offer unprecedented access to mineral resources to be used essentially in Earth-orbit and beyond. The aim is to stimulate economic growth on Earth and offer new horizons in space exploration.

Luxembourg already has a strong track record in related sectors, with satellite operator SES, established in Luxembourg 30 years ago and now a major global player in its field.

The budget allocated to SpaceResources.lu will be part of the national space budget that will be defined in the frame of the preparation of the Luxembourg contribution to the next multiannual budget of the European Space Agency to be decided in December 2016. The government will decide on new means for a wide range of new activities and initiatives, including this one.

Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy Étienne Schneider, announced the spaceresources.lu initiative today: "Our aim is to open access to a wealth of previously unexplored mineral resources on lifeless rocks hurling through space, without damaging natural habitats. We will support the long-term economic development of new, innovative activities in the space and satellite industries as a key high-tech sector for Luxembourg. At first, our aim is to carry out research in this area, which at a later stage can lead to more concrete activities in space."

Jean-Jacques Dordain, the former Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) and advisor to Luxembourg Government on SpaceResources.lu, said: "This initiative is a clear demonstration that Europeans are innovative and able to take risks when the stakes are high. While futuristic, the project is based on solid grounds, i.e. technical prowess that already exists in Europe and around the world."

Simon P. Worden, Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation said: "Humanity is on the verge of expansion into the solar system – and then beyond. Using the resources we find there is essential – not only for our expansion into space but also to ensure continued prosperity here on Earth."

Rick Tumlinson, Co-founder and Chair of the Board of Deep Space Industries stated: "By opening up the resources of space, Luxembourg will help take the pressure off the Earth."

Chris Lewicki, President and CEO of Planetary Resources stated: "We commend the Government of Luxembourg in leading the world by establishing this new resource industry, thereby enabling the economic development of near-Earth asteroid resources. Planetary Resources looks forward to working with Luxembourg."

Karim Michel Sabbagh, President and CEO of SES stated: "We welcome Luxembourg's visionary initiative to take, once again, a pioneering step in space technology and further leverage our shared knowledge and experience. We look forward to contributing with our unique capabilities to these future activities."

Yves Elsen, Chairperson of the Luxembourg Space Cluster stated: "Over the past three decades, Luxembourg has built up extensive know-how in world-class space related activities. Luxembourg can write history once again by further sustaining the attractiveness of the country for a host of next generation space activities."