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This has some good explanations of basic economics. However, the real importance of mining asteroids is that it would make it possible to build colonies in spa
by woodandsteel 7y ago
This has some good explanations of basic economics.
However, the real importance of mining asteroids is that it would make it possible to build colonies in space that could potentially hold far more than the present population of Earth.
- JoeAltmaier 7y agoRight! The easiest and most productive use of space metals is, in space. To build habitats, more mining equipment etc. It costs so much to lift metals into orbit, once they are there its dumb to drop them down to Earth again. At least not until all the space purposes have been satisfied.
- jbattle 7y agoGold is quite dense, I wonder if you could use this asteroid to build shielding for long-term habitats. I imagine you'd still need something stronger to provide the structural elements, but for managing radiation aboard space stations this gold might be quite useful
- dredmorbius 7y agoBulk rock or regolith is vastly more abundant and works well. See O'Neill's original designs.