Is the Singapore Government able and willing to accept the liability that comes with mining the Moon

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

Singapore based Qosmosys, has raised seed funding of US$100 million. to send a vehicle into space to mine the Moon.

In Qosmosys words:

Central to our business model is lunar mining, particularly the extraction of essential resources and minerals like the helium-3 isotope (3He). As we venture into the lunar mining industry, our ZeusX spacecraft will serve as the catalyst for deploying its robotic solutions and offering services directly from the Moon’s surface.


Beyond exploration and mining for its own account, Qosmosys serves its customer with ZeusX’s versatile design enabling Qosmosys to cover a broad spectrum of business solutions. From deploying scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to offering transportation services and supporting robotic missions, our spacecraft opens up new possibilities and revenue streams. This comprehensive approach ensures that Qosmosys remains well-positioned to capture a significant share of the lunar economy, providing our shareholders with substantial opportunities for corporate growth and profitability.

At Qosmosys, we believe that our journey to the Moon is not only a testament to human ingenuity but also a gateway to a sustainable and prosperous future. Through responsible resource utilization, we aspire to shape the lunar economy in a manner that benefits humanity as a whole. Our commitment to ethical and environmentally conscious practices guides us in our pursuit of providing innovative solutions and fostering economic growth while preserving the celestial bodies we explore.

The Government Of Singapore is a signatory to the   Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects and is therefore " absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects on the surface of the Earth or to aircraft, and liable for damage due to its faults in space. Qosmosys is a Singapore company and hence Singapore is likely to be considered a "a launching State" for the purposes of that Convention, for the Convention includes the activities of private companies within the State.

Mining operations on Earth are complex and risky enough, doing so on the Moon is likely to cause that risk to rise a hundred fold. There does not appear to be any indication that these matters have been discussed in Singapore,  and hence whether the Singapore Government is able and willing to accept the liability that comes with  mining the Moon remains unclear. 

TO BE READ WITH 

Singapore Signs Artemis Accords


NASA
MAR 29, 2022
ARTICLE





Deputy Executive Director of the Singapore Office for Space Technology & Industry Chris Leck, left, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R. Littlejohn, Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Singapore Ambassador to the United StatesAshok Kumar Mirpuri pose for a photo following Singapore’s signing of the Artemis Accords in Washington, March 28, 2022.
Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore

Singapore demonstrated its commitment to the peaceful and responsible exploration of space by signing the Artemis Accords, which set forth the guiding principles for cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong signed the document during a ceremony March 28, 2022, in Washington.

Singapore is the 18th country to sign the Artemis Accords, more than doubling the original number of nations that signed in October 2020.

“I am excited that Singapore signed the Artemis Accords,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “It’s amazing how much worldwide commitment for this effort has grown over the past year and a half and I can’t wait to see what the coming months bring as additional countries sign on to join our quest for peaceful exploration of space under Artemis.”

Singapore is the third Asian country to sign the Artemis Accords, following Japan and the Republic of Korea. It is also the ninth country to sign under the Biden-Harris Administration.

NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, announced the establishment of the Artemis Accords in 2020. The Artemis Accords reinforce and implement the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. They also reinforce the commitment by the United States and partner nations to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.

Additional countries will sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as NASA continues to work with its international partners to establish a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space. Working with both new and existing partners will add new energy and capabilities to ensure the entire world can benefit from our journey of exploration and discovery.

Learn more about the Artemis Accords at:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords

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