The Allure โand Obstacles of asteroid Mining
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Despiteโ ongoing technological advancements and increasing interest from the private sector, extracting โresources from asteroids remainsโ a notable challenge. One celestial body capturing โคattention is 16 Psyche, a unique asteroid possibly โworth aโข staggering Rp165,000 septillionโฃ (a number with 24 zeros!).
A Lost planet’s Core
Measuring over 226 kilometersโ in diameter, 16 Psyche โis believed to be the โexposed core of a protoplanet that never fully formed. Unlike โthe rocky compositionโ of most asteroids, Psyche is thought to be richโค in iron, nickel, and valuable rare metals like โplatinum and palladium – crucial components in modern electronics andโข the automotive industry.
though, NASA’s upcoming mission to Psyche isn’tโ driven by mining ambitions. The primary goal is toโ unlock the secrets of planetary formation by studying theโ metallic core of an ancient world, offering an unprecedented glimpseโฃ into the interiors of planets.
Technically Feasible, Financially Challenged
Planetary physicist Philip โMetzger of Central Florida University argues that the technical hurdles to asteroid mining โขaren’t insurmountable. The key โขdifference from terrestrial miningโ liesโ in โขdeveloping equipment capableโฃ of functioning in low gravity and withstanding high radiation levels. Crucially, the necessary โคrobotic technologyโ and space equipment have alreadyโ been developed โขand tested โin laboratory settings.
However, accordingโฃ to NASA’s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) system, asteroid mining technology currently โsits at levels 3 to 5. Reaching โขmissionโ readiness โrequires levels 6 orโฃ 7, signifying triumphant โtesting in real space conditions. “The technology โฃneedsโค to beโ improvedโฆbefore we are ready to build a flight mission. What is lacking right now is funding,” Metzger explains.
The Riseโข of Private Space โMining
While public space agencies prioritize research,a growing number of private companies,including AstroForge and TransAstra,are actively pursuingโข asteroid mining technologies. They face substantial obstacles related to cost and logistical โcomplexity.
Kevin โCannon, an assistant professor โat the Colorado School of Mines, questions the economic viability of returning mined materials to Earth. He deems the concept “economically dubious” due to the highโ mission โฃcosts and the โคfluctuating value of โขmetals, notably platinum group metals.
instead, the most promising avenue appears to be in-situ resource utilization – directly exploiting asteroid resources in space. Water-rich asteroids can be processed into rocketโค fuel (hydrogen and oxygen),โ while metals can be used to construct satellites and space infrastructure, โeliminating theโฃ need for costlyโ Earth-based launches.
Asteroids vs. the Moon
Although the Moon is closer and possesses valuable resources, its metal content isโข significantly lower than that of metallic asteroids like Psyche. While lunar miningโ might be easier,โฃ its unlikely to yield the same abundanceโ of resources.
Asteroids present thier โown challenges.โฃ Even “nearโค Earth” asteroids require โคcarefully timed orbital windows for safe return missions. NASA’s Psyche probe,for example,is expected to arrive at itsโ destination in 2029 after a six-year journey.
Currently, โขseveral space missions – including OSIRIS-REx, Hayabusa2, and โฃHera โข- โฃare laying theโ groundwork for future mining โoperations.while not focused on direct metal extraction, these projects are developing essential technologies inโ navigation,โ sampling, and data return, all critical forโ successful asteroid mining endeavors.
(Source: detikINET)
