Engineering the Future
Engineering the Future: The Tech Powering Space Mining Missions From Concept to Capability, the Systems Set to Shape Off-Earth Extraction As the concept of space mining transitions from theory to actionable strategy, the real challenge lies in the technology stack that will power the first viable missions. For industry professionals, the conversation is no longer […]
Space Mining-Benefits to the Earth
Space Mining: Why It’s Good for Earth and Humanity How Harvesting Resources from the Space Can Help Us Thrive at Home Space mining may seem like a pursuit of the far future, but its greatest impact could be felt right here on Earth. From preserving natural resources to powering global economies, mining the asteroids, Moon and […]
Who Owns Space
Who Owns Space? The Debate Over Off-Earth Resources As companies plan to harvest resources from asteroids, the Moon, and Mars, a fundamental question remains largely unanswered: Who owns the stuff in space? The tools to mine the our celestial neighbors are nearly here but the legal framework to govern that activity is still playing catch-up. […]
Asteroid Miners
Asteroid Miners: The Companies Racing to Tap Space’s Hidden Wealth Asteroids are potential gold mines. With trillions of dollars in untapped resources floating in near-Earth space, a new wave of companies is developing the tech to mine them. Here are the bold ventures turning science fiction into the next great space industry. AstroForge This California-based […]
5 Cool Facts About Microgravity Mining
5 Cool Facts About Microgravity Mining 1. You Can’t Just Dig Down Traditional drills rely on gravity for downward force. In microgravity, drilling can actually push the spacecraft away instead of penetrating the surface. 2. Asteroids Are Often Hollow Many asteroids are porous or loosely packed rubble piles. Hitting one too hard might not just […]
Zero Gravity-Zero Problems
This image shows a view across asteroid Bennu’s southern hemisphere and into space, and it demonstrates the number and distribution of boulders across Bennu’s surface. The image was obtained on March 7, 2019, by the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a distance of about 3 miles (5 kilometers). The large, light-colored boulder in […]
Sampling Mars
Perseverance selfie at Cheyava, Mars 2020 Sampling Mars How Rovers Are Leading the Way We need to understand what’s beneath the Martian surface and that job has fallen to the rovers. NASA’s Perseverance and Curiosity rovers have been critical in gathering geological data and testing early resource extraction techniques. Perseverance is equipped with a rotary-percussive […]
Mining on the Moon and Mars
Mining on the Moon and Mars Paving the Way for a Self-Sustaining Space Economy The future of civilization in space won’t be built on dreams alone. It will be built from the dust, rock, and ice of other worlds. As humanity pushes farther into the solar system, the Moon and Mars are emerging as the […]
Asteroid Mining Tech in Development
Asteroid Mining Tech in Development Around the world, engineers and scientists are developing specialized tools and systems to prospect, extract, and process valuable materials from space rocks. From solar-powered drills to robotic swarms, here’s a look at the cutting-edge tech poised to make asteroid mining a reality. Autonomous Mining Spacecraft Companies like AstroForge and […]
Most Valuable Asteroids Identified So Far
NASA illustration of Psyche (main) and artist’s conception of Psyche spacecraft near the surface of the Psyche asteroid (inset). NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/Peter Rubin / Maxar/ASU/Peter Rubin Most Valuable Asteroids Identified So Far Asteroids hold immense potential for resource extraction, with certain celestial bodies valued in the quintillion of dollars due to their rich compositions of metals […]