The Future of Asteroid Mining

There are some scientists who believe that an asteroid only 150-ft wide could contain up to 130 BILLION dollars worth of platinum-group metals! Looks like asteroid mining might be the future of space exploration. Companies like Planetary Resources have already assembled mission profiles to mine near-Earth asteroids for raw materials, ranging from water to precious metals.

What do you think? Is asteroid mining crazy, or are these people just ahead of the curve? Let us know in the comments!

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[charlessmith]

I think asteroid mining is necessary if we are to ensure the preservation of our species.

[mckennacisler]

Politicians: What's the point of space travel? Who cares about exploration? Wait... we can _make_ money with space travel!? Well what are we waiting for, lets explore space!
I'm hoping this realization will happen soon...

[franciscofranco]

We're going to run out of some minerals here on Earth, so asteroid mining can literally save us, and help us get further out in space, which can save us furthermore.

[dalemartin]

When you increase supply you must also increase demand. That means large scale space exploration.

[Delosian]

The moment someone dumps tons of platinum group metals onto the world metals market the price will go down, meaning your US$130B asteroid suddenly becomes worth a fraction of that.

[mivapusa]

Crazy?
It would be like calling Nikola Tesla 'crazy'.
There is nothing crazy about this, only how awesome it is. this is ahead of its time alright, but for once, ahead of its time is backed by people with cash, meaning our time could be the 'ahead time'... in short, I believe this will be absolutely awesome and work.

[MrCmagik]

Space mining is imo the next natural step in our quest for ressources.
Here on Earth we've depleted many rare metal ressources and now, more often than not, investors have to face "planet protectors" associations.
So we're struggling, if we don't mine we're gonna miss ressources, if we do we're destroying ecosystems.
While Space Mining will come with a bunch of other issues, the ecosystem will not be one. (which is a good thing)
Finally, we can safely assume that space up to the asteroid belt has more than enough minerals humanity will ever need for few centuries.
This will also help develop new technologies too (so new jobs etc)

[enigma]

Astreoid mining sounds like the best idea ever it could also help us from tearing up the earth

[herbertkeithmiller]

I have been for asteroid mining (and against a mission to mars) since the late '70s So I must be REALLY crazy
 Mission to Mars = Flags & Photos go home (ok some science) 
Asteroid mining  = resources for sustained human space habitation allowing for prolonged exploration.

[DavidRdavidminecraft]

The problem is that once we mine all these metals the prices will automatically inflate and it will be basically worth the same as it did before we mined it, basically we wouldn't all get rich but the price of goods made from these materials would go down which is always good.

[HoneyBeauBeau]

Wow! I first logged on to Youtube today to hear about a new Nintendo game. Too much internet for one day! LOL!

[yomommashaus]

ahead considering many essential elements will be used up in the next 100 years!

[kalebbruwer]

this could revolutionise space travel once it actually happens. because right now, the biggest problem is funding. once space exploration will actually start paying the bills itself, this industry will boom. (of course, it will take a while to get there.)

[ZackFlanagan]

Jonathan, do you think that these mining communities would be probable? Or would it be some sort of space sustained mission much like the International Space Station?

[blockscorp]

@fwthinking 3D art student here. Great video! Any chance you could give me some info on who created your asteroids in this video? I'm needing to do the same and they look phenomenal!
Thanks! :)

[granttrain]

Build a launch base in the Congo (cheap land near the equator), rent out work space to private companies, where they can launch and land easily, and this would also greatly boost the economy of central Africa.

[chrisWTG]

SO excited for this!!!,  not only the mining factor, but imagine what all of us can do with it!, mankinds options are extended, we can go more in depth and do more extensive research for the better of our world (with the money, we can provide better environment and living conditions for less developed/poor countries). Also the potential revenue would be so good for the future of exploration!, we can host more missions to space, possibly develop stations or habitable places for humans on earth, we can research and develop cures and vaccinations for illness. ALL IN ALL, THIS IS SUPER EXCITING AND I CANT STOP THINKING OF HOW MUCH THIS WOULD BETTER THE WORLD.

but manned missions to the asteriods? time consuming!!!, not only getting to the asteriod but also mining the resources, hopefully they develop mining robots or something? and also, I think that the idea of OVER HARVESTING proves as a potential threat only for the economy, humans will continue to consume these products for industry and maybe if we do over harvest, we will start stockpiling, underground?, hopefully overpopulation will slow down lol

[junaidmianrph]

I'm ready and waiting to go. Reach out to me when it's time. Until then...

[massimookissed]

Is there a rocket big enough to get Tod Hoffman, a Cat D9 & a wash plant into space?

[robertgraybeard]

Yes, I think asteroid mining is a great idea.

At 0:41 you point out that platinum group metals are "mega rare here on Earth" - you meant on the Earth's surface. it is accepted that the Earth's core is composed of iron, uranium (radioactivity keeps the core hot), and other heavy elements that collected when the very early Earth was totally molten. Some of the heavy elements in the crust were brought up by volcanism and some came with asteroid impacts.

You mention that oxygen can be harvested from asteroids - and implied that it would be available directly since you called it a "volatile" like water. Actually, oxygen binds to hydrogen to make water and combines with other elements to make the minerals in rocks. Of course, with electricity from solar power systems, water or rock could be "disassembled" to produce oxygen and other elements.

Real volatiles like ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide, alcohol, etc, etc will be harvested from comets. But "that's a whole 'nother problem". Nitrogen, necessary for plant growth for space settlements, might also be harvested from Venus or Mars.

The future will be interesting.