Shown above: a representation of an asteroid mining operation in space
Introduction
Humanity has always looked up to the cosmos, enticed by its splendid riches and majestic beauty. That hasn’t changed today either. Mining for resources in space may seem like something out of a science fiction movie, but it might become a reality sometime in the near future. Using modern technology, space mining could very well bring about a revolution in how humans get resources.
Shown above: 16 Psyche is thought to contain valuable resources worth more than the entire world economy
What is space mining?
Space mining refers to the exploration and extraction of minerals or other resources from outer space. This primarily consists of mining on asteroids or other planets that have desired valuable resources in abundance.
Where will space mining occur?
As mentioned previously, mostly asteroids and other planets (including moons) will be the primary location for mining operations. However, the first asteroids humans might mine on a large scale will likely be Near Earth Objects (NEOs). Near Earth Objects, as the name implies, are close to Earth. This means that they will be easier to reach, helping keep costs down. Although not for large-scale mining operations, the Japanese Hayabusa probe brought around 1,500 grains from the 25143 Itokawa asteroid (a near-Earth asteroid) in 2010, for research purposes. Asteroids like 25143 Itokawa will likely be the first candidates for mining operations. Some other resource-rich asteroids include:
How will space mining occur?
Once an asteroid is picked, the next step is to actually go there. This will likely be done with an unmanned spacecraft, which will most likely be solar-powered and the equipment on it will be mostly lightweight (in order to get the maximum amount of resources back). The landing will also be difficult, as the asteroid will be rotating at high speeds in space. Then, mining on the asteroid will be done with robotic equipment and lasers. A large dome might also need to be installed around the mining site in order to ensure none of the mined material gets displaced (due to very little gravity). Once enough resources are extracted, they will be stored and taken back to Earth. Another way that might make this process more cost-effective is to bring the asteroid close to Earth’s orbit and capture it using Earth’s gravitational pull. That would make it easier to mine. However, this method could be more dangerous and take more time.
Who will mine in space?
Big companies like SpaceX have expressed interest in asteroid mining. Other companies have popped up as well to get in on the industry. Offworld and The Asteroid Mining Corporation (UK) are some just to name a few. Alongside that, Luxembourg has come up as the unofficial European capital for the space mining industry.
Key Takeaways
With the emergence of modern technology and robotics, mining in space has become more of a reality. With some asteroids worth more than the entire modern world economy, looking up toward the cosmos has become very lucrative. Extracting resources from space may fill the need for dwindling non-replenishable resources for millions of years to come and open the doors to deep space exploration.
Citations:
Bonsor, Kevin. “How Asteroid Mining Will Work | HowStuffWorks.” Science | HowStuffWorks, https://science.howstuffworks.com/asteroid-mining.htm. Accessed 29 December 2021.
Britt, Hugo. “Companies Are Preparing for Space Mining.” Thomasnet, 19 August 2021, https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/companies-are-preparing-for-space-mining/. Accessed 29 December 2021.
“Discovery Statistics.” Discovery Statistics, https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/stats/site_all.html. Accessed 29 December 2021.
“Resources in Space - Space Resources - Luxembourg Space Agency.” Luxembourg Space Agency, https://space-agency.public.lu/en/space-resources/ressources-in-space.html. Accessed 29 December 2021.
“Unlimited Resources From Space – Asteroid Mining.” YouTube, 16 August 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8XvQNt26KI. Accessed 29 December 2021.
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