Technical Challenges and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) for Asteroid Mining and Planetary Defense
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods and Background
2.1. Architecture and Benefits
2.2. The Science of Space Rustling
2.3. Environmental Impacts of Asteroid Mining on and Off-World
2.4. The Science of Planetary Defense
3. Discussion: Analysis of ELSI in Asteroid Mining and Planetary Defense
3.1. Claim Jumping and Piracy Issues
3.2. Dual-Use Concerns for Deflection Technology
3.3. Distribution of Risks and Rewards in Asteroid Mining and Planetary Defense
3.4. Building on Existing Frameworks for Globally Regulating Equitable and Responsible Use of Space
4. Conclusions and Future Directions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
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Kendal, E.; Milligan, T.; Elvis, M. Technical Challenges and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) for Asteroid Mining and Planetary Defense. Aerospace 2025, 12, 544. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060544
Kendal E, Milligan T, Elvis M. Technical Challenges and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) for Asteroid Mining and Planetary Defense. Aerospace. 2025; 12(6):544. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060544
Chicago/Turabian StyleKendal, Evie, Tony Milligan, and Martin Elvis. 2025. "Technical Challenges and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) for Asteroid Mining and Planetary Defense" Aerospace 12, no. 6: 544. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060544
APA StyleKendal, E., Milligan, T., & Elvis, M. (2025). Technical Challenges and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) for Asteroid Mining and Planetary Defense. Aerospace, 12(6), 544. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060544