Is asteroid mining economically feasible?

Asteroid mining offers the possibility to revolutionize supply of resources vital for human civilization. Preliminary analysis suggests that Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA) contain enough volatile and high value minerals to make the mining process economically feasible.

Is asteroid mining a good idea?

Harnessing valuable minerals from a practically infinite source will provide stability on Earth. These “space rocks” contain a range of minerals, from water to platinum. Asteroid mining will provide sustainable resources on Earth and will afford the availability to maintain a human presence in space.

How can asteroid mining help the environment?

As a side project, space mining can grab water from the rocks and comets — water which, with a little processing makes rocket fuel. Which in turn makes even more currently unimaginable space operations possible, including ones that could give the planet all the energy it needs to avert climate catastrophe.

Is asteroid mining possible Quora?

Absolutely, and relatively soon, too.

How much is the asteroid belt worth?

Asteroids contain metals worth quintillions of dollars — but mining them won’t necessarily make your richer than Bezos or Musk. Asteroids aren’t just chunks of ice and rock, but storehouses of precious metals. The asteroid belt is estimated to contain $700 quintillion worth of resources.

What are the cons of asteroid mining?

Uncertainty on types of ore

• unknown substance in ore.
• uncertainty on quality of ore from space.
• risk on human in future.

How much wealth is in the asteroid belt?

Can you invest in asteroid mining?

Asteroid Mining is an expensive, enterprising and exciting industry in its early infancy. It will attract investors because as part of any space portfolio, the risk is already factored in, and the rewards are definitely there – it is only a question of where and when.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of space mining?

Some Pros and Cons of a Space Program at a Glance

Disadvantages	Advantages
Pollution of outer space	Inventions resulting from space research
Cost of funding space program	Jobs created by space program
Dangers to astronauts	Understanding of natural world

How much would it cost to mine an asteroid?

This so-called near-Earth asteroid the NEA, would weigh in the neighborhood of 500 tons, according to the study. How much would asteroid mining cost to do? According to NASA, the estimate is around $2.6 billion. Which is very expensive but possible.

What is the future of asteroid mining?

Because asteroids are loaded with minerals that are rare on Earth, near-Earth asteroids and the asteroid belt could become the mining centers for remotely-operated excavators and processing machinery. In the future, an industry could develop to send refined materials, rare metals and even free, clean energy to Earth from asteroids and other bodies.

Why is NASA sending a mission to an asteroid?

“However, the mission will develop important technologies for asteroid exploration that will benefit anyone interested in exploring or mining asteroids, whether it’s NASA or a private company,” said Lauretta.

Is it possible to make materials from asteroids?

In the future, an industry could develop to send refined materials, rare metals and even free, clean energy to Earth from asteroids and other bodies. Two significant developments make this prospect possible: robotics and the discovery of fundamental elements needed to make plastic, rubber and various metals existing throughout space.

How much would it cost to send an asteroid back to Earth?

According to the KISS study, the cost for a future mission to identify and return a 500 ton asteroid to low earth orbit is ~$2.6 billion USD, ignoring the costs to develop the infrastructure necessary to process the materials in the asteroid (“Asteroid usage”, 2012).