The tiny European nation ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without Luxembourg is not well known ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without a major player ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without the space race. However, its government has just made big investments ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without the future industry ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without asteroid mining. Private companies will mine asteroids ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without the Earth ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without water and minerals. Some of the things they mine will one day help fuel trips to Mars and ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without . Luxembourg's government is looking ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without research and development projects to make sure it is one ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without the leading countries ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without this new industry. Minister for the economy Etienne Schneider said: "Our aim is to open access ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without a wealth of previously unexplored mineral resources ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without lifeless rocks speeding through space, ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without damaging natural habitats." Luxembourg is not the only country to look ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without to the skies ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without new places to mine. In 2015, US president Barack Obama signed a law that will let American companies mine space resources. In January, the European Space Agency shared a vision ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without a research village ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without the Moon. This would be used ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without a base for mining companies. The US company Deep Space Industries said space resources will allow greater exploration ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without the solar system without the need to mine resources ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without Earth. However, there could be problems ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without for mining companies. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 says that natural resources ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without space are part ahead as at beyond for in near of on to up without mankind's 'common heritage'. This means private companies may not be able to mine asteroids.