Please use this topic to discuss Planetary Resources, Inc. and its plans to overlay space exploration and natural resources.
dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 04-18-2012 10:34 PM
Anyone have any insight on whether the James Cameron/Google asteroid mining collaboration is legitimate?
We're left to ponder, however, what Planetary Resources will actually do. Technology Review speculates that the project is an asteroid mining operation, reasoning that the other natural resources we need — an Earth-like habitat and supply of fossil fuels — aren't going to be found in space any time soon.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Perhaps it will be a platinum rush that finally opens up the final frontier.
On Tuesday, a new company called Planetary Resources Inc. will unveil its plans to mine asteroids that zip close by Earth, both to provide supplies for future interplanetary travelers and to bring back precious metals like platinum.
The venture may sound far-fetched — perhaps along the lines of Newt Gingrich's campaign promise to colonize the moon — but it has already attracted some big-name investors, including Larry Page and Eric Schmidt of Google, as well as profitable technology development contracts.
"If you believe that resources in space are critical towards a space-faring future, you will inevitably come to the result that the asteroids — in fact, the near-Earth asteroids — are the steppingstones to the rest of the solar system," Eric C. Anderson, one of the company's co-founders, said in a telephone interview.
arjuna unregistered
posted 04-24-2012 04:18 PM
Lots of technical hurdles (as well as financial ones), but this is exciting stuff.
I wasn't sure until their announcement, but it seems that this endeavor will be solely robotic in nature (though they said they may collaborate with NASA on future manned asteroid missions). But if they are eventually successful, PR will establish the infrastructure that will enable a fuel depot strategy for human exploration of points beyond. Human spaceflight will become vastly more economic.
Great stuff, though there will obviously be major challenges.
issman1 Member
Posts: 1042 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
posted 04-25-2012 12:30 AM
Space exploration gives way to exploitation, which is good. But shouldn't the US government have made a similar decree on the behalf of NASA by now?
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 04-25-2012 01:26 AM
Planetary Resources to mine asteroids for humanity, exploration and profit
No, no, no. For profit, exploration and humanity. If they were doing it for humanity they would hand out the minerals for free.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 04-25-2012 06:47 AM
The economic rationale behind this is "first come, first served"? In other words, who owns the asteroids?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-25-2012 06:57 AM
The legalities are not entirely clear, but that's in part because they haven't been needed to put to test yet.
Does a private company have a right to stake claim to an asteroid, or are celestial bodies such as the moon, planets and asteroids the communal property of all Earthlings?
"The law on this is not settled and not clear," said Henry Hertzfeld, professor of space policy and international affairs at George Washington University. "There are lots of opinions on the status here, and nobody is necessarily right because it's complicated."
The legal ambiguity hasn't needed to be addressed before, Hertzfeld said, because no company has previously come forward with a serious asteroid mining mission plan and the funds to back it.
rasorenson Member
Posts: 96 From: Santa Clara, CA, USA Registered: Nov 2009
posted 04-25-2012 01:52 PM
In the pursuit of said profit, any time we manipulate mother nature, there are extenuating consequences. Perhaps it is all very straight forward, but one consideration is the physics of orbital mechanics — especially with NEAR EARTH asteroids. What prevents companies from taking what they want — shoving off — and the next time around the changed orbital dynamic brings the asteroid into an earth impact path? If you think the BP oil spill was big — I jump to worst case scenarios.
mikej Member
Posts: 481 From: Germantown, WI USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 04-25-2012 06:12 PM
quote:Originally posted by rasorenson: What prevents companies from taking what they want — shoving off — and the next time around the changed orbital dynamic brings the asteroid into an earth impact path?
Well, then they wouldn't have much time spend the profits. Plus, it would seem that they'd be abrogating their fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders — hard to maximize shareholder value if they kill their shareholders.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-04-2017 04:10 PM
Planetary Resources video
Planetary Resources is embarking on the world's first commercial deep space exploration mission. The purpose is to identify and unlock the critical water resources necessary for human expansion in space.
Sourcing water is the first step to creating a civilization in space. Water is used for life support functions and can also be refined into rocket propellant. The initial mission will identify the asteroids that contain the best source of water, and will simultaneously provide the vital information needed to build a commercial mine which will harvest water for use in space.
posted 04-18-2012 10:29 PM
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