> A return capsule for metal/rocks pretty much just needs to be a heat shield on the front of a dumpster with some parachutes, so not very heavy. The problem i

> A return capsule for metal/rocks pretty much just needs to be a heat shield on the front of a dumpster with some parachutes, so not very heavy. The problem is that "just" a cargo return capsule would still be very expensive because everything in aerospace is very expensive. And there would be fixed costs running into many millions. I think if the scale of the operation was big you could turn a profit at current prices. But a large scale operation would affect the price. Also having a lump of platinum conveniently parked in LEO is kind of easy mode. If you have to get from somewhere then you're looking at an interplanetary mission, and the cost goes way up. Again it would be profitable at scale... but the price would be affected. At some point I think there's a crossover.