An exclusive interview with Dr. Amelia Starr, Co-founder of Valley Spark
As humanity ventures deeper into space, the question of how we utilize extraterrestrial resources becomes increasingly critical. I recently sat down with Dr. Amelia Starr, astrophysicist and co-founder of Valley Spark, to discuss the company’s pioneering work in developing ethical approaches to asteroid mining. What emerged was a vision not just of technological innovation, but of a new paradigm for humanity’s relationship with space resources.
The Necessity of Asteroid Mining
What makes asteroid mining so essential to our future in space?
“When we look at the long-term sustainability of human civilization, both on Earth and beyond, asteroid mining isn’t just an opportunity—it’s a necessity,” Dr. Starr explains, her eyes lighting up with characteristic enthusiasm. “The fundamental challenge of space exploration has always been the crushing economics of Earth’s gravity well. Everything we need in space—water, building materials, fuel—currently has to be launched from Earth at enormous expense.”
She gestures to a detailed holographic model of the asteroid belt hovering above her desk in Valley Spark’s Houston headquarters. “Near-Earth asteroids alone contain trillions of dollars worth of resources. But more importantly, they contain the raw materials that could allow humanity to become truly spacefaring without continuing to strip-mine our home planet.”
Dr. Starr pauses, considering her words carefully. “It’s not just about what we gain in space—it’s about what we preserve on Earth. Every ton of platinum or water we harvest from asteroids is a ton we don’t need to extract through environmentally damaging processes here.”
Ethics by Design
Valley Spark has emphasized the ethical dimensions of asteroid mining from the beginning. Why is this so central to your approach?
“Most companies develop technology first and think about the consequences later,” Dr. Starr responds without hesitation. “We’ve deliberately reversed that process. From day one, our engineering team has worked alongside ethicists, environmental scientists, and policy experts to ensure our mining systems reflect our values.”
She walks me through the company’s development facility, where prototype mining equipment is being tested in simulated low-gravity environments. “Take this extraction module, for example. We could have designed it to maximize short-term resource recovery, but instead, we optimized for minimal disturbance to the asteroid’s structure and orbit. That decision added eight months to our development timeline, but it aligns with our commitment to preserving the scientific value of these bodies.”
What specifically does this ethical framework include?
“First, we’re committed to orbital stability. Every asteroid has scientific value and potential hazards if its trajectory is altered. Our distributed extraction approach ensures we don’t change the mass distribution enough to affect orbital dynamics.
“Second, we’ve developed what we call ‘zero-waste processing.’ Traditional mining discards materials without immediate commercial value as tailings. In space, that approach is both wasteful and potentially dangerous—creating debris fields that could threaten other operations. Our systems process and utilize every component we extract.
“And perhaps most fundamentally, we’ve embraced the principle of ‘cosmic preservation.’ Some asteroids have unique scientific or historical importance that transcends their resource value. We’re developing classification protocols to identify and protect these bodies from commercial exploitation.”
For a deeper dive into Valley Spark’s overall sustainability vision, check out their recent feature on the future of space habitats, which explores how their habitat systems integrate with their resource utilization philosophy.
Technology in Service of Principles
How do these ethical principles translate into specific technologies?
Dr. Starr leads me to a sealed laboratory where a scaled prototype of their extraction system operates on a simulated asteroid surface. “Our approach is precision-focused rather than bulk extraction. We use advanced spectroscopic mapping to identify specific resource deposits, then deploy targeted extraction techniques rather than wholesale processing.”
She points to a robotic arm delicately removing material from the test surface. “I like to compare it to the difference between keyhole surgery and open surgical techniques—minimal invasion with maximum precision. This approach preserves the structural integrity and scientific value of the asteroid while still accessing valuable resources.”
Water extraction appears particularly important in their system. “Water is the oil of space economics,” Dr. Starr notes. “It’s essential for life support, but it can also be split into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel. Our thermal extraction chambers can recover over 98% of water ice from an asteroid with minimal energy input. Early industry prototypes were losing up to half the water to sublimation during extraction.”
The efficiency isn’t merely a business advantage. “That kind of precision isn’t just good business—it’s responsible stewardship. These resources formed billions of years ago. We have an obligation to use them wisely.”
The Commons of Space
One of the most complex issues in space resource utilization involves questions of ownership and benefit sharing. How is Valley Spark addressing these challenges?
Dr. Starr sighs, acknowledging the complexity. “The legal framework remains underdeveloped. The Outer Space Treaty established space as ‘the province of all mankind,’ but didn’t specifically address resource extraction. We can’t wait for perfect international agreements before developing the technology, but we also can’t ignore the ethical dimensions.”
Valley Spark has developed their own benefit-sharing framework while engaging with international regulatory efforts. “We reject the notion that space resources should follow the same exploitative patterns we’ve seen throughout human history,” she states firmly. “This is an opportunity to establish new paradigms that benefit humanity collectively while still enabling commercial operations.”
The company recently participated in UN working groups focused on space resource utilization frameworks. “We’re advocating for balanced approaches that recognize both commercial rights and common heritage principles. Our internal framework includes knowledge sharing with scientific institutions, resource allocation for human space exploration beyond commercial interests, and even a proposed trust fund to ensure Earth-based communities benefit from space resources.”
When asked about pushback from industry peers, Dr. Starr is diplomatic but firm. “Some companies view our approach as unnecessarily constraining or idealistic. We view it as necessary for long-term sustainability and social license to operate. History has shown repeatedly that resource rushes without ethical frameworks lead to environmental destruction and social conflict. Space offers us a clean slate—we shouldn’t repeat those mistakes among the stars.”
From Vision to Reality
Where does Valley Spark’s asteroid mining program stand today, and what’s your timeline for implementation?
“We’re currently in the late prototype phase,” Dr. Starr explains. “Our roadmap includes a demonstration mission scheduled for 2027, which will test our extraction technology on a small near-Earth asteroid. This won’t be a full commercial operation but rather a validation of our approach.”
The demonstration mission will be fully transparent. “We’ll be documenting every aspect of the operation and sharing the results—both successes and failures—with the scientific community and regulatory bodies. This transparency is essential for building trust and advancing the field responsibly.”
If successful, limited commercial operations could begin in 2029. “We’re focusing initially on water extraction to support our space habitat and tourism ventures. Precious metal recovery—often portrayed as the most lucrative aspect of asteroid mining—is actually a secondary priority in our development timeline.”
This counterintuitive approach reflects the company’s practical focus. “Yes, there’s platinum and gold out there in tremendous quantities,” she acknowledges, “but the immediate value is in water and building materials that don’t have to be launched from Earth. That’s where the economics make sense in the near term, and it’s where the biggest sustainability impact lies.”
Interested readers can find a more detailed breakdown of their long-term strategy in Valley Spark’s vision for the next decade of space exploration, which outlines how their asteroid mining initiatives fit within their broader mission.
A Legacy Among the Stars
As our interview concludes, I ask Dr. Starr about the legacy she hopes Valley Spark will leave in the development of space resources.
She gazes thoughtfully at the asteroid model still rotating above her desk. “We have this remarkable opportunity to get it right from the beginning,” she reflects. “Throughout human history, our approaches to resource extraction have followed patterns of exploitation, environmental degradation, and unequal benefit distribution. Space resources offer an alternative path—one of stewardship, sustainability, and shared prosperity.”
The technical challenges remain formidable, but Dr. Starr’s vision extends beyond engineering solutions. “The technologies we’re developing matter tremendously, but equally important are the ethical frameworks and governance models we establish. How we extract and utilize space resources may ultimately prove as important as our technical capability to reach them in the first place.”
As Valley Spark continues to develop its asteroid mining capabilities, Dr. Starr remains focused on this broader vision. “When I look at an asteroid, I don’t just see precious metals or water ice. I see the building blocks of a sustainable human presence beyond Earth—one that expands our horizons without repeating our mistakes. That’s the future we’re working toward, one asteroid at a time.”
This interview was conducted at Valley Spark headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company’s asteroid mining demonstration mission is scheduled for launch in early 2027, with updates available through their official YouTube channel and podcast series on SoundCloud.