Unlimited Resources From Space – Asteroid Mining

Summary by Krater

This video explores the feasibility, economics, and mechanics of asteroid mining as an alternative to earth-based mining, concluding that electric propulsion and near-earth asteroids could make the practice both profitable and environmentally vital in the future.

From the video

Answers: Can we mine asteroids for rare metals?

• asteroid mining economics
• electric spacecraft propulsion
• space resource extraction
• near-earth asteroids
• orbital mechanics

What it concludes

• Switching from chemical to electric propulsion reduces the fuel cost required to reach deep space and makes asteroid mining missions viable.
• Targeting near-earth asteroids simplifies the travel distance and reduces mission costs significantly.
• Asteroid mining has the potential to eventually replace terrestrial mining and eliminate earth pollution caused by resource extraction.