Optimisation of the resource economy of metals, minerals and energy in an interplanetary perspective

Abstract

Valuable metals and minerals are becoming ever scarcer on Earth. The global population is steadily increasing. Thus, new sources of natural resources in space are now needed as an alternative to digging deeper into Earth. Therefore, a cost structure is proposed for generally improving the resource economy of metal and mineral commodities and energy resources based on the optimisation of residuals as regards resource exploitation on primarily an interplanetary scale. The introduced methodology involves business administration and economics theory and employs the previously introduced equality principle and the Efficient Use of Resources for Optimal Production Economy (EUROPE) model. The suggested theory is applicable in the solar system and the space-platform context. A case study shows how to in practice apply the findings on the USA exploiting natural and energy resources on asteroids and the red planet Mars. It is concluded that the presented methodology is useful for increasing the cost-effectiveness of mainly the occurring residuals when exploiting natural and energy resources and commodities outside of our own planet in space. Also, the equity of the distribution of such facilities is improved on all scales. The developed methods are suitable information support tools for decision-making in the management of natural resources, with emphasis on the economy of residuals on the interplanetary level as well as generally being applicable on ore mining. A proposed key figure enables management to immediately obtain an overall comprehension of the economic, technological and environmental performance of their interplanetary endeavours that hence continuously can be reviewed, monitored and evaluated.