Mining Asteroids
Discussion
Looks like a company has been set up to set the ball rolling in this area -
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-i...
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-i...
What would be the time scale of being able to mine on an asteroid before it went to far out off into space?
They must have to work fast and even allow for any problems.
Facinating to read though.
Also could mining on a floating rock cause it to divert from it's current path due to vibrations from drills etc..
They must have to work fast and even allow for any problems.
Facinating to read though.
Also could mining on a floating rock cause it to divert from it's current path due to vibrations from drills etc..
Edited by cal216610 on Tuesday 24th April 09:14
cal216610 said:
What would be the time scale of being able to mine on an asteroid before it went to far out off into space?
They must have to work fast and even allow for any problems.
Facinating to read though.
Also could mining on a floating rock cause it to divert from it's current path due to vibrations from drills etc..
I think the plan is deliberately move the asteroid out of its current orbit using low thrust boosters - such as ion drive or solar pressure - and to end up with the rock in a more stable and accessable orbit BEFORE drilling etc begins.They must have to work fast and even allow for any problems.
Facinating to read though.
Also could mining on a floating rock cause it to divert from it's current path due to vibrations from drills etc..
Edited by cal216610 on Tuesday 24th April 09:14
Eric Mc said:
I think the plan is deliberately move the asteroid out of its current orbit using low thrust boosters - such as ion drive or solar pressure - and to end up with the rock in a more stable and accessable orbit BEFORE drilling etc begins.
Whats the chance of one getting directed to an earth orbit and maybe falling into the pacific?minimal, everything would be calculated hundreds of times before the probe actually gets there.. and after that it will take months of burntime to alter the course of a giant space rock ( think ant pushing a car )
it will all be in slow motion, and getting a network of this orbital adjuster probes 'out there' will be very useful for when the rock of Armageddon comes calling.. as we'll be able to do something about it
it will all be in slow motion, and getting a network of this orbital adjuster probes 'out there' will be very useful for when the rock of Armageddon comes calling.. as we'll be able to do something about it
Bedazzled said:
If grinding up a one-ton chunk of regolith generates less than an ounce of platinum, the economics of mining above the Earth's gravity well look decidedly rocky. Cool idea though, let's do it anyway.
Maybe your mining the wrong thing? It costs millions to launch a satellite, and it's life expectancy is mainly limited by fuel. If you could refuel it in orbit the launch would be lighter (cheaper) and it could potentially operate for much longer.Bedazzled said:
If grinding up a one-ton chunk of regolith generates less than an ounce of platinum, the economics of mining above the Earth's gravity well look decidedly rocky. Cool idea though, let's do it anyway.
regolith also has a hell of alot of HE3.. and that is far far more valuable than platinum Asteroid Mining ! It's a totally genious business model. The payback is so so so far off, with no one able to be confident that it will EVER happen. You basically get a lot of rich companies and people to invest in some thing where the goal and bnefits are so far off that you can effectively finance what ever engineeering / mining related technologies you like and get other people to pay for it. There has to be a business / economic phrase that captures this kind of thing (other than folly) Bleak Horizon or some such...
Bedazzled said:
You'd have to process 150 million tonnes of lunar regolith to extract 1 tonne of He3. You're going to need some pretty substantial mining infrastructure, and a bunch of heavy-lift lunar rockets. What would be the cost of getting all that kit up the slippery slopes of Earth's gravity well? What profit would you make on your $4 billion?
In comparison, the Apollo programme cost $25 billion, the equivalent of around $150 billion in today's money.
as i said earlier.. rockets are NOT the solution! electro magnetic mass launchers are!In comparison, the Apollo programme cost $25 billion, the equivalent of around $150 billion in today's money.
although i think a space 'elevator' will work on the moon with current tech.
but if you must use a rocket, then you'll be wanting a closed cycle nuclear rocket, a VASMIR or something like that. as that will have the specific impulse required to take off.. fly to the moon.. and then land back on its launch pad ready to be refulled.
Cyrus1971 said:
Asteroid Mining ! It's a totally genious business model. The payback is so so so far off, with no one able to be confident that it will EVER happen. You basically get a lot of rich companies and people to invest in some thing where the goal and bnefits are so far off that you can effectively finance what ever engineeering / mining related technologies you like and get other people to pay for it. There has to be a business / economic phrase that captures this kind of thing (other than folly) Bleak Horizon or some such...
with space, most investments will take longer than a human lifetime to payback. so these billionaires are probbably thinking VERY VERY long term, as them laying the groundwork now means their grandkids will probbably be rich enough to colonise and rule an entire planet!Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff