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One ridiculous idea would be asteroid mining, although I'm not sure what the background radiation would in an asteroid. Plus, the whole cost issue.
by Herodotus38 10y ago
One ridiculous idea would be asteroid mining, although I'm not sure what the background radiation would in an asteroid. Plus, the whole cost issue.
- patall 10y agowhy would you do that? They need uncontaminated steel not uncontaminated ore. There is plenty of the latter on earth.
- Herodotus38 10y agoOne could grab an asteroid primarily composed of water ice, obtain oxygen via hydrolysis and then use either earth mined iron or iron from a different asteroid type. Like I said though the idea is ridiculous. I'm also not sure how much nitrogen is needed in steel making or where the best extra planetary source would be.
- paulsutter 10y agoAlong with asteroid mining will be space manufacturing, even 3D printing. It takes a lot less energy to move the finished product than the move the raw materials. 24x7 solar power, and less industrial pollution are other advantages of space manufacturing.