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I know that SV seems to have abandoned the idea of good unit economics, but the concept of asteroid mining seems to take that to a whole new level. The cost of
by InvisibleCities 11y ago
I know that SV seems to have abandoned the idea of good unit economics, but the concept of asteroid mining seems to take that to a whole new level. The cost of developing autonomous asteroid mining equipment, finding asteroids suitable for mining, getting this equipment to the asteroid, operating it, maintaining it, and shipping the mined product back to earth must be in the billions of dollars, if not more. This article talks about moving an asteroid into lunar orbit to make this easier, but it seems to me that the amount of delta-v needed to do that would be staggering, not to mention that even if we had engines capable of generating that amount of thrust, we would still need to somehow get them out of the Earth's gravity well and to the asteroid in question. Plus, even if we could somehow do any of the above, is there any evidence that asteroids like the article's $50 billion platinum asteroid even exist? As far as I am aware, less than 10% of the asteroids in the asteroid belt are metallic in nature (most are composed of carbon and silicon), and the metallic asteroids we do know about are all iron and nickel based, not exactly high-value metals. I'm all for space exploration, both by governments and by private enterprises, but this whole thing seems completely far-fetched and impractical.
- DavidSJ 11y agoThere are many asteroids in so-called near-Earth orbits, with nearly zero delta-V (beyond Earth escape) to reach them and return to Earth. The delta-V is even less than an insertion into lunar orbit. Mostly it's just a matter of being patient and letting the orbits phase, given the right nudge. (Also, note that delta-V is not thrust. Delta-V is a change in velocity, thrust is force.)
- InvisibleCities 11y ago>Also, note that delta-V is not thrust. Delta-V is a change in velocity, thrust is force.) Thanks for the condescending reply. Seeing as I have a degree in Physics, I am well aware of the technical difference between thrust and delta-v. However, when talking about rocketry, it's hard to have delta-v without corresponding thrust, and my usage of both terms was more for rhetoric than a desire for absolute technical correctness.
- DavidSJ 11y agoWasn't trying to be condescending, but the reason I mention it is that in rocketry, the required thrust is very different (not linearly proportional, I mean) from required delta-V, especially in deep space missions where you have lots of time to do your burns.
- douche 11y agoThis really makes me want to play Kerbal Space program again, to see if they have added asteroids, or if I can build a rocket big enough to go to one of the smaller moons, and nudge it into different orbit...
- fit2rule 11y agoImagine we have a particle-assembly device which we can trustily feed raw components and out comes planned assemblies. We could call this thing, a "3D printer" because it allows us to print things but in this particular case its literally the best 3D printer in the known universe, because: it recycles everything it prints. So, we have this ideal device, and we send it up to one of these asteroids, in some form of redundancy of course (i.e. there is more than one ideal device, rather now a fleet of them), and the first thing that happens is that the fleet duplicates itself. Then, we have the ability to remotely send print jobs, some sort of .. inter-spacial network of some variety or brand or another .. whereby anyone on Good Ol'^WNew Earth can send something to the print queue. If the job is printable (it is/will be) then the asteroid is consumed, bit-by-bit. These bits fly themselves back to Earth for use. OR! They fly themselves somewhere else in space, for use ... Okay, I think I'm getting a nice video game idea from this article at least. Time for some science!
- thescriptkiddie 11y agoYou're missing the entire point. You don't mine asteroids to bring precious metals back to earth's surface. You mine asteroids to produce much less exotic raw materials outside of earth's gravity well, where the cost of importing them is over $4000 per kg.