Asteroid mining within two years

**plasty** · 01-22-13 at 07:27 AM

Quote:

Mining for metals on an asteroid: Spacecraft could begin drilling on passing rocks within just two years

Asteroids could be mined for useful ores and minerals as they hurtle past the Earth under plans by a U.S. company to launch its first rock-prospecting spacecraft by 2015.
Deep Space Industries announced today that it intends to launch a fleet of unmanned ships to intercept small asteroids as they speed past our own planet, possibly finding metals such as platinum.
The company joins a host of other start-up firms which hope to soon exploit the untapped resources of near-Earth objects to help fuel our civilisation's next phase of technological development.

Space age: This image, taken from Deep Space Industries
website, imagines how the process of mining asteroids could
look. The space start-up intends to begin prospecting
asteroids as soon as 2015

'Using low cost technologies, and combining the legacy of our space program with the innovation of today’s young high tech geniuses, we will do things that would have been impossible just a few years ago,' said chairman Rick Tumlinson.

Asteroid Lutetia pictured by a Nasa satellite between
Mars and Jupiter: DSI hope to launch their first
prospecting spacecraft, which they dub Firefly, in just
two years time for missions lasting two to six months

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**trustingquidnunc** · 01-22-13 at 07:46 AM

Luckily, this isn't NASA. These are private companies. Though, I would be surprised if NASA decided to jump on board later if they're successful.

**GrimmCro** · 01-22-13 at 07:48 AM

When/if these mining operations are successful and turn profit, you can bet NASA and ESA will jump all over this.

**trustingquidnunc** · 01-22-13 at 07:52 AM

I've got a brother working as an engineer at one of the private space companies. He seems pretty sure that this whole mining operation stuff is going to be a huge success. In my opinion, even if it's not, the technology they have to develop to do it is still going to net them a profit.

**anomander** · 01-22-13 at 08:02 AM

In what way will this EVER work financially? It's a total non-starter and load of absolute rubbish!! I've heard more convincing arguments for replying to those e-mails from Nigeria wanting my bank details!!

The lunatics have taken over the asylum (need to dig out my Fun Boy Three album ......who knew they were psychic!!)

**L1b3rta** · 01-22-13 at 08:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by pokerplayer

By NASA math 2 years = 40 years.

If it were up to NASA, we'd be mining Mars and astroids long ago. Go complain at the US politicians who severed budgets after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

**JiffOrange** · 01-22-13 at 08:54 AM

We can barley get to the moon and back ...like this is really going to happen any time soon

Thats just funny.

Pinch of salt, it is the daily fail :)

Cheers,

Jiff

wormri · 01-22-13 at 09:34 AM

Did it before it was mainstream.

sayargh · 01-22-13 at 09:51 AM

Wouldn't it cost significantly more money to launch the spacecraft than they could ever make back mining?

**shonymat** · 01-22-13 at 11:28 AM

I give 'em 200 years before this gets started.

**anomander** · 01-22-13 at 11:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by shonymat

I give 'em 200 years before this gets started.

Exactly shony ...totally agree

So what's the motivation for this kind of thing? Seems a total ego-trip for some billionaire to get in the news or a scam

**tomandsusan** · 01-22-13 at 11:58 AM

I figure there is FEDERAL FUNDING available for this. The taxpayer will incur the expense of this so called venture! More like a scam to rid the Federal Government of several BILLION dollars. Can anyone say SOLONDRA! Another Federally Funded SCAM! Thanks Barak! What can we expect in the next 4 YEARS.

**NeoTheKiller** · 01-22-13 at 12:23 PM

Maybe it's a scam, maybe it's not, I don't know, but I would really be happy if this would become reality, it would be a great achievement :)

**Sandlotje** · 01-22-13 at 12:26 PM

Hey, why argue it? They're private companies, so if they succeed awesome! If not, oh well...

01-22-13 at 07:46 AM	#2
trustingquidnunc Newcomer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 54	Luckily, this isn't NASA. These are private companies. Though, I would be surprised if NASA decided to jump on board later if they're successful.

01-22-13 at 07:48 AM	#3
GrimmCro Your Point Is Invalid Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 1,486	When/if these mining operations are successful and turn profit, you can bet NASA and ESA will jump all over this.

01-22-13 at 07:52 AM	#4
trustingquidnunc Newcomer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 54	I've got a brother working as an engineer at one of the private space companies. He seems pretty sure that this whole mining operation stuff is going to be a huge success. In my opinion, even if it's not, the technology they have to develop to do it is still going to net them a profit.

01-22-13 at 08:02 AM	#5
anomander Reborn Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,120	In what way will this EVER work financially? It's a total non-starter and load of absolute rubbish!! I've heard more convincing arguments for replying to those e-mails from Nigeria wanting my bank details!! The lunatics have taken over the asylum (need to dig out my Fun Boy Three album ......who knew they were psychic!!)

01-22-13 at 08:37 AM	#6
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,051	Quote: Originally Posted by pokerplayer By NASA math 2 years = 40 years. If it were up to NASA, we'd be mining Mars and astroids long ago. Go complain at the US politicians who severed budgets after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

01-22-13 at 08:54 AM	#7
JiffOrange Elder Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: $_POST['WIN!']; Posts: 2,717	We can barley get to the moon and back ...like this is really going to happen any time soon Thats just funny. Pinch of salt, it is the daily fail :) Cheers, Jiff

01-22-13 at 09:34 AM	#8
wormri Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 280	Did it before it was mainstream.

01-22-13 at 09:51 AM	#9
sayargh Apprentice Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 378	Wouldn't it cost significantly more money to launch the spacecraft than they could ever make back mining?

01-22-13 at 11:28 AM	#10
shonymat Elder Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2,994	I give 'em 200 years before this gets started.

01-22-13 at 11:52 AM	#11
anomander Reborn Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,120	Quote: Originally Posted by shonymat I give 'em 200 years before this gets started. Exactly shony ...totally agree So what's the motivation for this kind of thing? Seems a total ego-trip for some billionaire to get in the news or a scam

01-22-13 at 11:58 AM	#12
tomandsusan Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Never Never Land Posts: 5,812	I figure there is FEDERAL FUNDING available for this. The taxpayer will incur the expense of this so called venture! More like a scam to rid the Federal Government of several BILLION dollars. Can anyone say SOLONDRA! Another Federally Funded SCAM! Thanks Barak! What can we expect in the next 4 YEARS.

01-22-13 at 12:23 PM	#13
NeoTheKiller Emperor Of Emperor's Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hell's Road Posts: 1,929	Maybe it's a scam, maybe it's not, I don't know, but I would really be happy if this would become reality, it would be a great achievement :)

01-22-13 at 12:26 PM	#14
Sandlotje Newcomer Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 90	Hey, why argue it? They're private companies, so if they succeed awesome! If not, oh well...