Choice A is the best answer because both Passage 1 and Passage 2 indicate a belief that the resources most valued in space may differ from those most valued on our planet. Passage 2 says this explicitly in lines 74-76: "The resources ..... Earth." Meanwhile Passage 1 suggests that water mined from space may be more valuable than metals or other earth elements when creating an "off-plant economy" (lines 25-30,"to build......the most desired commodity.")
Choice B is incorrect because neither passage discusses, either implicitly or explicitly, the need for space mining to be inexpensive. Choice C is incorrect because Passage 2 does not specifically identify precious metals or rare earth elements but instead focuses on theoretical problems with space mining. Choice D is incorrect because diminishing resources on Earth is not discussed in Passage 2.