The geoarchaeology of planetary exploration: new approaches to space heritage preservation.
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| Title: | The geoarchaeology of planetary exploration: new approaches to space heritage preservation. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Holcomb, Justin A.1 (AUTHOR) justinholcomb@ku.edu, O'Leary, Beth L.2 (AUTHOR), Mandel, Rolfe D.1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Geology Today. May/Jun2026, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p129-133. 5p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Planetary exploration, *Extraterrestrial resources, *Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015, *Preservation of historic sites, *Archaeological geology, *Space race, *Protection of cultural property, *Moon |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | On 21 May 2015, the United States passed the 'Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act', also known as the SPACE Act, encouraging a competitive commercial space exploration industry and effectively ushering a new space race, or even space age. Unlike the former space age of the 1950s–1970s which was characterized by intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, the new space race involves at least 70 different countries and hundreds of private companies pursuing space exploration enterprises. One reason for this renewed interest lies in the Moon's potential for providing key natural resources capable of being mined, also known as in situ resource utilization (ISRU), such as rare earth elements for consumer electronics, water ice containing hydrogen necessary for rocket fuel and helium‐3, a valuable nonradioactive isotope that is rare on Earth. Along with the hundreds of private companies, three major ongoing multi‐government space initiatives aimed at ISRU are underway: the NASA‐led ARTEMIS Program (which saw its first crewed mission launch on 1 April 2026), the ESA‐led moon base initiative and China's Lunar Exploration Program. These initiatives have major implications for the future management of natural and cultural resources preserved within extraterrestrial environments, and it is imperative that researchers, including geologists, archaeologists and planetary scientist work together to discuss strategies to mitigate risk to these resources. While natural resources such as those mentioned above represent the main foci of space interest, cultural resources are equally important to consider for protection as we enter the new space race. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 194295269 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The geoarchaeology of planetary exploration: new approaches to space heritage preservation. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Holcomb%2C+Justin+A%2E%22">Holcomb, Justin A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> justinholcomb@ku.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22O'Leary%2C+Beth+L%2E%22">O'Leary, Beth L.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mandel%2C+Rolfe+D%2E%22">Mandel, Rolfe D.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Geology+Today%22">Geology Today</searchLink>. May/Jun2026, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p129-133. 5p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Planetary+exploration%22">Planetary exploration</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Extraterrestrial+resources%22">Extraterrestrial resources</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Commercial+Space+Launch+Competitiveness+Act+of+2015%22">Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preservation+of+historic+sites%22">Preservation of historic sites</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Archaeological+geology%22">Archaeological geology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Space+race%22">Space race</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Protection+of+cultural+property%22">Protection of cultural property</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moon%22">Moon</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: On 21 May 2015, the United States passed the 'Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act', also known as the SPACE Act, encouraging a competitive commercial space exploration industry and effectively ushering a new space race, or even space age. Unlike the former space age of the 1950s–1970s which was characterized by intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, the new space race involves at least 70 different countries and hundreds of private companies pursuing space exploration enterprises. One reason for this renewed interest lies in the Moon's potential for providing key natural resources capable of being mined, also known as in situ resource utilization (ISRU), such as rare earth elements for consumer electronics, water ice containing hydrogen necessary for rocket fuel and helium‐3, a valuable nonradioactive isotope that is rare on Earth. Along with the hundreds of private companies, three major ongoing multi‐government space initiatives aimed at ISRU are underway: the NASA‐led ARTEMIS Program (which saw its first crewed mission launch on 1 April 2026), the ESA‐led moon base initiative and China's Lunar Exploration Program. These initiatives have major implications for the future management of natural and cultural resources preserved within extraterrestrial environments, and it is imperative that researchers, including geologists, archaeologists and planetary scientist work together to discuss strategies to mitigate risk to these resources. While natural resources such as those mentioned above represent the main foci of space interest, cultural resources are equally important to consider for protection as we enter the new space race. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/gto.70020 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 5 StartPage: 129 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Planetary exploration Type: general – SubjectFull: Extraterrestrial resources Type: general – SubjectFull: Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 Type: general – SubjectFull: Preservation of historic sites Type: general – SubjectFull: Archaeological geology Type: general – SubjectFull: Space race Type: general – SubjectFull: Protection of cultural property Type: general – SubjectFull: Moon Type: general – SubjectFull: United States Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The geoarchaeology of planetary exploration: new approaches to space heritage preservation. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Holcomb, Justin A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: O'Leary, Beth L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mandel, Rolfe D. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May/Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 02666979 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 42 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Geology Today Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
