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How Feasible is Mining in Outer Space?

Mining colonies in the far-reaches of our galaxy might seem like stuff of Sci-Fi movies, but the technology that’s needed to explore mineral deposits in outer space is almost ready to use.


Mining colonies in the far-reaches of our galaxy might seem like stuff of Sci-Fi movies, but the technology that’s needed to explore mineral deposits in outer space is almost ready to use.

Will outer-space mining solve our shortage of resources and spurn a trillion-dollar industry? It might sound mind-boggling to us mere mortals, but it is the hope and belief of exploratory scientists that the concept is more than just a flight of the imagination.

The tiny space probe that could help us mine comets

According to a group of scientists who gave a presentation at a meeting of the American Geophysics Union recently, a small space probe the size of a cereal box is not far from being produced.

This miniature spacecraft, which is expected to cost between $10-20 million, would visit comets and sample their surface for mineral deposits. The project has received initial funding and is currently being developed.

NASA probe heads to asteroid Bennu

Asteroid mining isn’t just something that space-age inventors are thinking about – it has reached the mainstream. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe will head to asteroid Bennu soon to explore its surface for minerals.

The probe isn’t designed to land on the asteroid’s surface, but it will approach Bennu and extend a robotic arm to take surface samples. This should provide some crucial information about the mineral compositions of asteroids. The results of this exploration could result in robotic mining technology that would allow us to extract minerals from comets and other celestial bodies.

Scientists believe that comets contain mega-deposits of iron ore, nickel, and other precious metals that could be worth trillions of dollars – the challenge lies in discovering them and finding a way to mine them.

Technological challenges lie ahead

Knowing what minerals are present on comets and asteroids (and how big the deposits are) should lay the foundation for space mining in the future.

Realistically speaking, the technology to extract them and transport the metal back to earth may be further on the horizon. However, scientists are giving us hope that minerals could be sourced in outer space long after the earth’s deposits are exhausted.

While we wait for space-age mining to emerge, there is plenty to be done on planet earth. Contact Montabert SA today with your rock breaking requirements and we will be happy to guide you.