Abstract
The basic idea of space mining strikes many people like a Buck Rogers fantasy. And indeed the challenges to develop key new, reliable technologies that are cost effective is challenging indeed. The most critical technology involves space transportation systems. This requires launcher systems that are able to get from Earth to space mining targets—primarily near earth asteroids—and bring back to Earth excavated materials safely. Also there is a need for low cost and efficient spacecraft that can “find” the best targets for asteroid mining. A good deal is known about the Moon, but mining the Moon poses perhaps greater challenges than mining minor asteroids—particularly if their very existence poses a risk to humans. This chapter discusses these technical challenges and options.
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Notes
- 1.
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“What are Atira, Atens, Apollos, Amors,” JPL Frequently Asked Questions eo.jpl.nasa.gov/faq/#aten.
- 3.
Asteroid targets of interest: http://www.planetaryresources.com/asteriods/#asteroids-targets.
- 4.
JPL Small Body Database Browser: http://www.planetaryresources.com/asteriods/#asteroids-targets.
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Asteroid Zoom: Hunt for Resource-Rich Asteroids http://www.asteroidzoo.org/.
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Woo, Marcus (2014-12-20). “Designing a Mothership to Deliver Swarms of Spacecraft to Asteroids,” Wired. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
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Boyle, Alan (January 22, 2012). “Deep Space Industries’ lofty asteroid ambitions face high financial hurdles,” Cosmic Log. National Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
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“The ‘CAPEd’ Crusader: Goddard Technologist Advances CubeSat Concept for Planetary Exploration” Satnews Daily, May 21, 2015. http://www.satnews.com/story.php?number=71626023.
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Ibid.
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Shackleton Energy Overview: http://www.shackletonenergy.com/overview/#goingbacktothemoon.
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Gerard O’Neill, The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space, (2000) Apogee Books, Burlington, Canada.
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Bradley C. Edwards and Eric Westling, The Space Elevator (2003) Praxis Books, NY.
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John Lewis, Mining the Sky: Untold Riches from the Asteroids, Comets and Planets (1997) Perseus books, NY.
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Jakhu, R.S., Pelton, J.N., Nyampong, Y.O.M. (2017). Transportation Systems and Targeting Locations for Space Mining. In: Space Mining and Its Regulation . Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39246-2_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39246-2_3
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