Space mining and scientific knowledge of asteroids: Implications for policy in a context of national interest

Space mining is increasingly an area of intense competition between firms and nations. It is also an industry that relies on scientific knowledge of asteroids. Knowledge generated through scientific research of asteroids can contribute to the future competitive advantage of firms and hegemony of nations seeking to secure leadership in the space mining sector. This makes scientific knowledge of asteroids valuable to market participants, conferring an advantage for them when accessed in a privileged form. We discuss the implications for policy and research of scientific efforts to learn more about asteroids given heightened geo-political tensions and polarizing national interests on Earth. At the core of this is a moral tension between greater global openness in the interests of Mertonian science and greater secrecy in the interests of nations that fund scientific capabilities.