What if we could return multi-hundreds to multi-thousand tonne payloads of rocket fuel from resource bodies in deep space to commercial propellant depots in earth-orbit?
That would completely change the economics of space.
About Us
Off Earth Resources Pty Ltd (OER) is an Adelaide-based startup focusing on the provision of space resources for use in the developing in-space industry ecosystem.
The founders of OER have extensive terrestrial resource development expertise together with expertise in space and Earth based business development and investor management. By applying a project oriented, business focussed and terrestrial resource development approach to space resource development, OER is well placed to unlock the commercial solution to space resources and lead in the provision of sustainable resources for the developing in-space industry ecosystem.
The early use of space resources is for in-space (in-situ) manufacture of water and propellant for delivery to various in-orbit markets. This is because there is a rapidly growing demand to refuel for the fleets of many satellites now being orbited.
Water, as the basis for fuel and for life sustaining, is the primary focus of the OER resource development goals.
The markets are varied and will have different commercial opportunities.
Building on these emerging in-space resource demands, and the ‘new space’ economy of Destination Mars, and Humanity throughout the solar system, OER aims to support this future by developing a space-based propellant supply chain accessing in-space resources, thereby unshackling supply from terrestrial launch constraints.
OER will catalyse commercial activities in space, build its market base, and enable the self-sustaining and unconstrained expansion of humanity into space.
Our purpose is to access and make available the resources of space, for operators of in-space facilities, for the advancement of humanity (‘for all mankind’).
Our mission is to make available propellants (fuel) at scale, at a competitive cost, to enable the sustainable expansion of the in-space economy.
The Ultimate Circular Economy: everything harvested in space gets used.
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Horizon 1 Primary (Core) Resource
• Primary use will be life support & feedstock for various spacecraft propellants
• Water
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Liquid oxygen
• Liquid Hydrogen
• Methane -
Horizon 2 Secondary (Maturing) Resource
• Magnetite Reduction by heating with carbon gives steel plus byproduct = oxygen
• Ultra High Molecular Weight Carbon Polymers
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Horizon 3 Tertiary (Industrial) Resource
• Silica glass
• Silicon Metal for photovoltaics Mond Process byproduct = Cobalt
• Radiation shielding / cast basalt bricks / spun basalt glass fibre
Our mission
Our vision of space resource development is that ‘these are inherently mining projects’ (albeit very high value and very remote), and need to be subject to the concepts and planning disciplines which have been evolved over many decades of terrestrial resources development. ‘It’s Just A Mine’
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Verifying first “Resource” in space
First to implement a resource-recovery operation under the guidelines of the Artemis Accords
Early to build out a sales pipeline
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Taking full advantage of the low delta-V to access Deimos
Minimum cost of processing/refining in situ
Use existing commercial space industry ‘services’ from experienced service providers
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Delivery when and where the customer needs it (multiple ‘market’ orbits), 'by virtue of arrival into HEEO orbits, from which easy transfers can be arranged to any lower orbits'.
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On time, meeting product specification
Superior quality of engineering design and risk management processes
OER will be…
The team
Our Unique blend of resource industries knowledge and competencies with deep space resources and business insights and experience
Our team is uniquely enabled to ‘marry’ terrestrial resource project development concepts & disciplines with deep knowledge of space business, spacecraft engineering, and space mission planning.
We have >150 years’ experience covering mineral exploration, mining & processing, resource project planning and implementation from concept through to operations; plus, a unique background being deeply embedded in earlier space ventures.
We are long term ‘thought leaders’ in the planning, technology, and economics of solar system small bodies resources and their development.
Directors/Founders
Its founders each have had decades of experience in the fields of terrestrial resources planning development and operation, space resources studies and planning, and space insurance and business development; and are widely known, published, quoted, and highly regarded.
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Chairman
Mark has over 40 years' experience in radiation, safety, and chemical management in uranium, mineral sands, and rare earth mining and processing, and management of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) in the oil and gas industry.
Mark holds a Master Applied Science, Medical Physics from Queensland University of Technology, Grad Dip in Occ Hazards Management, and a Research MSc (Honours) based on his landmark thesis on Mining the Near Earth Asteroids (1998), still widely referenced.
Formerly responsible for the radiation planning, permitting, and implementation of controls, in two uranium projects, Western Mining Corporation’s Olympic Dam and Heathgate Resources’ Beverley Project.
Mark has a track record of many years as a thought leader in safety management, radiation protection, and occupational hygiene in the Australian resources sector (uranium, mineral sands, rare earths, oil and gas, and other commodities0, and top-level advice to projects across all scopes and stages of development.
Mark was a co-founder of Deep Space Industries, where he was Director Mining and Processing, a US entity which was set-up to pursue asteroid mining before starting up OER.
Mark continues to provide thought leadership in the development of concepts around extraterrestrial resources and the expansion of the space economy and is active on international forums focussing on the expansion of Humanity into space as a pathway to our long-term prosperity and security.
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Managing Director
Jim has almost 40 years’ experience in resource development at the operation, corporate, leadership and consulting levels, working across multiple specialist disciplines to achieve practical outcomes.
He has worked internationally with a range of NGO and corporate organisations, and has a passion for developing the next generation and ensuring the sustainability of capability.
Jim has active consultancies with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) and World Nuclear Association and is the President of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society. He has worked as a consultant with Oz Minerals, Rio Tinto, Telstra, Western Mining Corporation, Vimy Resources, Toro, Uranex, BHP, Alkane Resources, Arafura, Pasminco/Zinifex. He has presented papers at the Luxembourg Space Resources conference and Space Settlement Round table.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Grad Dip in Occ Hazards Management, and Master of Applied Science.
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Director, Strategic Development
Kirby has a long and varied involvement within the Australian Space Industry and has held executive positions with various space interest groups.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce degree (in accounting and financial management) from the University of New South Wales.
Currently Managing Director of Asia Pacific Aerospace Consultants, he has held roles at GIO in Australia, Managing Director of GIO Space and Director of Commercial Operations at the Asia-Pacific Space Centre.
Kirby instigated the establishment of the ‘Australian Space Industry Chamber of Commerce’ now Space Industry Association of Australia where he is a life member.
Kirby is the Chair of the National Space Society of Australia and the Chair of the U.S. based, National Space Society, having succeeded Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin in this position. He is also the Chair of the Australian Space Development Conference series since its inception in 1990.
In 1990 he was appointed to the NSW State Government Task Force on Aerospace, Space, and Defence Industry Development.
In 1999 he was the recipient of the Australian Space Pioneer Award.
Kirby previously served as a member of the Australian Government’s “International Space Advisory Group”, advising the Prime Minister’s office on space policy and industry development.
In the media