space mining
Conclusion
There is a clear path forward for Can-
ada to become a leader in commercial
space through space mining. It provides
a direction for both industries, who are
searching for innovative opportunities.
Additionally, both industries have a ro-
bust R&D pipeline of blended public
and private funds, as well as a rich his-
tory of collaboration to tackle the type
of complex challenges that space mining
presents.
Both the Canadian mining and space
industries are at a crossroads. There is
an opportunity to foster closer collabo-
ration between them to enhance Cana-
da's global competitiveness in nationally
critical sectors of its economy. Mining
companies in Canada face higher costs
for increased environmental regulation,
labour, and scarcer resources on Earth.
Together these drive up costs and are
making many potential terrestrial mines
infeasible. Articulating a new path which
incorporates mining and commercial
space into Canada's plans would signal
support to both industries and alleviate
any uncertainty, much like what Luxem-
bourg and the United States have done.
Canada, like Luxembourg, could be-
come a hub for commercial space start-
ups, providing additional resiliency to
Canada's commercial space positioning
through partnership opportunities.
Space mining is on its way to becom-
ing a reality, and likely sooner than most
observers realize. Without clear direc-
tion for two of Canada's most successful
industries, Canadian companies run the
risk of being relegated as secondary play-
ers in a market they clearly could be lead-
ing. This is a historically unprecedented
opportunity.
If we miss this opportunity, it will sim-
ply come down to a failure of the imagi-
nation.
Kyle Van Hooren is an Analyst at Avas-
cent specializing in how disruptive tech-
nologies like commercial space, cleantech,
and block chain affect corporate strategy
including global expansion and adjacent
market growth, and product commercial-
ization and pipeline development.
Astronaut Stephen K. Robinson
anchored to a foot restraint on
the International Space Station's
Canadarm2 Photo: NASA
The Arkyd Series 100 space
telescope. (Planetary Resources)
24 DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 www.vanguardcanada.com
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