Expanding The Economy

Companies like Planetary Resources, Shackleton Energy, and others in the NewSpace sector intend to make their profits directly from space and space resources.  Their hope, however, is that their activities will spark a general move into space, expanding the economy, and igniting a new era for humanity.

Lots of work remains to be done before that can happen, however-- and not all of it involves science and engineering.  For example, before selling space resources is possible, establishing their legal status and defining property rights beyond Earth, and establishing the right to make profits in space and returning that profit to Earth must be settled.  Politicians around the world looking to support a move into space and growing the human economy could do no better than produce a legal framework that encourages investment in space on a large scale.