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2021 Vol.58, Issue 6 Preview Page

General Remarks

Review of Space Industry and Technology for Asteroid Mining

소행성 채광을 위한 우주 산업 및 기술 동향

Yosoon Choi1*
최 요순1*
1Professor, Dept. of Energy Resources Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
1부경대학교 환경해양대학 에너지자원공학과 교수
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2021. pp. 640-651
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Abstract

Interest in the new space industry is growing in Korea due to the lifting of the US–Korea missile guidelines and the development of the Nuri launch vehicle. This paper reviews the space industry and the technology for asteroid mining. The definition and classification system of asteroids are explained, and first-generation companies in the asteroid mining industry and start-ups established after 2010 are introduced. The countries of the relevant companies are becoming more diversified, and the business areas are expanding to include not only space telescopes and space launch vehicles but also robotic mining equipment, space manufacturing and mineral processing, and the construction of space gas stations. The trends of exploration, transportation, and the energy and mining technologies necessary for asteroid mining are summarized, and issues related to international laws and economic feasibility are presented. Continuous investment and efforts are required to develop technologies and improve international laws for asteroid mining.

Keywords
Asteroid mining
Space industry
Exploration
Transportation
Energy

한미 미사일 지침 해제와 누리호 발사체 개발로 인해 국내에서도 새로운 우주 산업에 관한 관심이 높아지고 있다. 본 논문에서는 소행성 채광을 위한 우주 산업 및 기술 동향을 정리하였다. 소행성의 정의와 분류 체계에 관해 설명하였고, 소행성 채광 분야의 1세대 기업들과 2010년 이후 설립된 신생 기업들을 소개하였다. 기업들의 국가가 다변화되고 있으며, 사업 분야도 우주 망원경과 우주 발사체뿐만 아니라 로봇 채광장비, 우주에서의 제조 및 자원처리 기술, 우주 주유소 구축 등으로 확대되고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 소행성 채광에 필요한 탐사, 운송, 에너지, 채광 기술의 동향을 정리하였고, 국제적 법률 및 규정 관련 이슈와 경제성 관련 이슈를 제시하였다. 소행성 채광을 위한 기술 개발과 국제적인 법률 정비를 위해 지속적인 투자와 노력이 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

키워드
소행성 채광
우주 산업
탐사
운송
에너지
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원공학회지
  • Volume : 58
  • No :6
  • Pages :640-651
  • Received Date : 2021-12-20
  • Revised Date : 2021-12-24
  • Accepted Date : 2021-12-27
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.32390/ksmer.2021.58.6.640
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