SSI Space Manufacturing 14: Extraterrestrial Prospecting Session
Asteroid Ida
Extraterrestrial Prospecting
Michael A’Hearn, University of Maryland
“Water or Rocks: Resources for Earth or for Exploration?”
Brad Blair, SSI, and Prof. Leslie Gertsch, University of Missouri-Rolla
“Mining Methods for Asteroid Utilization”
Mark Sonter, Asteroid Enterprises Pty Ltd.
“Mining Concepts Development for Assessing Asteroid Resources”
Dr. Faith Vilas, University of Arizona
“Resources from Asteroids: What We Can Expect From What We Now Know”
Michael A’Hearn, University of Maryland
“Water or Rocks: Resources for Earth or for Exploration?”
NEOs
— longer return from the moon
— no gravity wells to escape from as on planets and moons
— Resources in a comet
- half the mass is water
- organics — CO, CO2, CH3OH
- minerals – TBD – silicates known but what else?
- don’t know much about the mineralogy of comets
Mining NEOs
–Â can return small NEOs to locations where water and other resources are required
— very porous mix of ice & rock
— won’t sink into it — very low gravity
–Â can literally walk off a NEO — escape velocity is very low
–Â can’t use traditional mining techniques
Brad Blair, Space Studies Institute
“Mining Methods for Asteroid Utilization”
— Mining needs to be a profitable enterprise
— Settlement is where space needs to go — can map out everything we do on Earth in space
— First mining mission could be a partnership with a government entity interested in reducing collision risks with Earth
–mining is a very risk averse industry – need to keep that in mind with NEO mining
— Public-private partnership to deal with planetary defense
NEO Mining Options
- bag and boil for volatile extraction
- magnetic rake for high grade ore
- take small asteroid pieces home
- new moon — Earth orbit
- hot knife — cut up comet core with nuclear heat
Mark Sonter, Asteroid Enterprises Pty Ltd.
“Mining Concepts Development for Assessing Asteroid Resources”
— Asteroids are a resource for and a threat to all human life
— Currently more than 7,200 near earth asteroids
— Expect to discover many more in coming years
— Itakowa is close to being a proper size for mining — Japanese Hayabusa probe landed there
— To NEO mining work, need to minimize project risk, payback time, etc.
— Platinum worth $4,000 per ton; water worth $1 million per ton
— Awaiting development of market in orbit for water delivery
Dr. Faith Vilas, University of Arizona
“Resources from Asteroids: What We Can Expect From What We Now Know”
— 538,271 asteroids discovered
— 7317 Near Earth Asteroids
— 66,000 NEOs
— 18,000+ potentially hazardous NEOs
