Its often said Earths resources are finite. This is true enough. But shift your gaze skyward for a moment. Up there, amid the stars, lurks an invisible bonanza of epic proportions.
Many of the materials upon which modern civilization is built exist in far greater amounts throughout the rest of the solar system. Earth, after all, was formed from the same cosmic cloud as all the other planets, comets, and asteroidsand it hardly cornered the market when it comes to the valuable materials we use to make smartphone batteries or raise skyscrapers.
A recent study puts it in perspective.
Lead author Juan Sanchez and a team of scientists analyzed the spectrum of asteroid 1986 DA, a member of a rare class of metal-rich, near-Earth asteroids. They found the surface of this particular space rock to be 85% metallic, likely including iron, nickel, cobalt, copper, gold, and platinum group metals prized for industrial uses, from cars to electronics.
With the exception of gold and copper, they estimate the mass of these metals would exceed their global reserves on Earthin some cases by an order of magnitude (or more).
The team also put a dollar figure on the asteroids economic value.
If mined and marketed over a period of 50 years, 1986 DAs precious metals would bring in some $233 billion a year for a total haul of $11.65 trillion. (That takes into account the deflationary effect the flood of new supply would have on the market.) It probably wouldnt make sense to bring home metals like iron, nickel, and cobalt, which are common on Earth, but they could be used to build infrastructure in orbit and on the moon and Mars.
In short, mining one nearby asteroid could yield a precious metals jackpot. And there are greater prizes lurking further afield in the asteroid belt.
Of course, asteroid mining is hardly a new idea. The challenging (and expensive) parts are traveling to said asteroids, stripping them of their precious ore, and shipping it out.
But before we even get to the hard parts, we need to prospect the claim.
This study, combined with future NASA missions to the asteroid belt, should help bring the true extent of space resources into sharper focus.
What makes 1986 DA particularly interesting is its proximity to Earth.
Most metal-rich asteroids live way out in the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter. Famous among these is 16 Psyche, a hulking, 140-mile-wide asteroid first discovered in 1852.
The asteroid belt was once thought to be the remnants of a planet, but its origins are less certain now.
Still, scientists speculate Psyche may be the exposed core of a shattered planet-in-the-making. And indeed, smaller metal-rich asteroids may also be the shards of a protoplanetary core.
Under this theory, developing planets in the asteroid belt grew large enough to differentiate rocky mantles and metal cores. These later suffered a series of collisions, leaving their shattered rocky remains and broken metal hearts to wander the belt.
We may never observe Earths core in person, so, if the theory is true, Psyche could be our next best alternative. Also, the existence of so much exposed metal in one place is tantalizing for those who would extend humanitys presence beyond Earth.
In either case, we have yet only managed to assemble a basic portrait of Psyche. Its simply too far away to study in any great detail. Which is where 1986 DA and 2016 ED85 (another asteroid in the study) come in.
Both 1986 DA and 2016 ED85 are classified as near-Earth asteroids. That is, they live in our neighborhood.
At some point in the past, gravitational interactions with Jupiter nudged them out of the asteroid belt and into near-Earth orbits. So, a key motivation of the study was to trace the asteroids lineage. Because theyre closer, we can observe them in more detail and infer the characteristics of their distant family members, including Psyche.
According to the study, spectral analysis of the asteroids, combined with orbital simulations, suggests theyre likely from one of four families in the outer asteroid belt.
We believe that these two mini Psyches are probably fragments from a large metallic asteroid in the main belt, but not Psyche itself, study coauthor David Cantillo said. Its possible that some of the iron and stony-iron meteorites found on Earth could have also come from that region in the solar system too.
According to the study, the two asteroids have a composition similar to Psyche. Even if it isnt a parent, its a close relation, so they can add further clues as to Psyches make-up.
We started a compositional survey of the NEA population in 2005, when I was a graduate student, with the goal of identifying and characterizing rare NEAs such as these metal-rich asteroids, said Vishnu Reddy, who co-led the study and is a University of Arizona associate professor and principal investigator of the NASA grant that funded the work. It is rewarding that we have discovered these mini Psyches so close to the Earth.
In the vision of the sci-fi novel and TV series, The Expanse,the asteroid belt is a source of raw materials for the solar system. Settlers have burrowed into dwarf planet Ceres and spun it up to provide artificial gravity for a sizable colony. Huge ships mine ice in Saturns rings and rock hoppers ply the belt for metal, water, and other resources.
The potential is there, but the reality is still firmly science fiction.
The dream of mining asteroids had a moment in the last decade. A number of space startups, since acquired or wound down, were aiming to kickstart a movement. The proximate vision was to mine water, not metal, to supply ships with oxygen and fuel. (Others have suggested moon mining may prove the easier feat in the near term.)
Space agencies have landed on and even returned samples from asteroids. But large-scale mining will likely depend on cheaper access to space and a viable market. Until then, well be stuck in the prospecting phase.
NASAs planned trip to Psyche is the most intriguing future mission. The spacecraft will launch in 2022 and arrive in 2026. Its hoped the mission will provide a better sense of the asteroids composition, confirm whether it is indeed the core of an ancient protoplanet, and yield insights into the solar systems violent past.
In the meantime, the cost of going to space is decreasing, and SpaceXs Starship may yield another leap.
Eventually, future explorers might tap into the solar systems vast resources to fuel ships and build habitats.
For now, well look up and dream.
Image Credit: Addy Graham/University of Arizona
Go here to read the rest:
- Industry coalition forms to protect GPS - POLITICO - Politico [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- 'The Expanse' Is the Best Sci Fi on TV - The Mary Sue [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- The Bare Minimum Number of Martian Settlers? 110 - Universe Today [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- How many humans are needed to start a colony on Mars? - CTV News [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- This Is How Many People You'd Need to Colonize Mars, According to Science - ScienceAlert [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- According to New Equations, a Mars Colony Would Need This Many People - Futurism [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2020]
- Space Outside, Sexism Inside: Mary Robinette Kowals The Relentless Moon - Den of Geek [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Here are the three missions to Mars that are happening this month - CTV News [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Bad weather may delay 1st UAE Mars mission on Japan rocket - CTV News [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Alyssa Carson: The teenager on a mission to Mars - Siliconrepublic.com [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- TWITTER POLL: Arab world should invest in space exploration - Arab News [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- A haunted train, a comedy show and karaoke: Entertainment in Calgary this weekend - CBC.ca [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- The Expanse Is Basically Game of Thrones in Space - but Better - CBR - Comic Book Resources [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- UK Space Agency hopes first woman on moon mission will make it key player - The Guardian [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Elon Musk getting a TV show that will reveal how he became genius space billionaire and Channing Tatum is - The Sun [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Huawei negotiating the sale of parts of Honor's smartphone business - comments - GSMArena.com [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Space 2069 - back to the Moon, to Mars and beyond - Room: The Space Journal - ROOM Space Journal [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Warface Has Released The Swarm Season Intro The Game - Bleeding Cool News [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- How Our Technologies Are Shaping the Future We Live In - Programming Insider [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Visualizing the Human Impact on the Earth's Surface - Visual Capitalist [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- The first Thanksgiving night sky: What did the Pilgrims see when they looked up? - Space.com [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Doctor Who: Where the 'Time Lord Victorious' Title Comes From - CBR - Comic Book Resources [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Gee whiz! An uppity-alien tells us how to live. - Johnson City Press (subscription) [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Mitochondria may be responsible for astronauts' health woes - The Burn-In [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Two motorbike concepts for riding on the Moon and Mars - Domus [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Astronauts experience these key changes in space that could impact their health, new research shows - WAAY [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- SpaceX tests rocket that will 'SAVE humanity' by shuttling us to Mars - The Sun [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- The best space board games of 2020 - Space.com [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Everything You Need to Know About the Mass Effect Timeline Before ME: Legendary Edition - GameRant [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- Trump will suffer from a mysterious disease, assassination attempt on Putin: Here are Bulgarian Blind Baba Vangas predictions for 2021 - OpIndia [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- The Midnight Sky Takes Us Into Spaceand a Bleak Near-Future - tor.com [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- This 27-course bundle can help you learn to code this new year for just $60 - The Next Web [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- On a planet where you cannot breathe, is living on Mars the best idea? - Florida Today [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- Elon Musk believes future Mars economy is going to be based on cryptocurrencies - Republic World [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2020]
- This Brown University graduate may be the first woman to land on moon - IBTimes India [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- Starlink: Elon Musks space internet comes to UK as SpaceX CEO says it will help get people to Mars - The Independent [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- 'The Expanse' exclusive: Naomi and Filip have a heated family chat in new clip from season 5, episode 7 - Space.com [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- 14 Mars facts weve only learned in recent years - ZME Science [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- Martian Music: NASA to Record Mars' Ambient Sound Through Perseverance Mission for First Time Ever | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather... [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- Humans could move to this floating asteroid belt colony in the next 15 years, astrophysicist says - Livescience.com [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2021]
- Mass Effect Timeline Explained: The Classic Trilogy's Story and Yes, Andromeda, Too - Collider.com [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- New kind of space station detected - Alton Telegraph [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Phosphine in Venus' clouds could be biosignature of life, rekindling idea of floating city - Daily Express [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Team Behind Space Probe Headed To Mars Includes Staff From CU Boulder - Yahoo News [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Mass Effect: 10 Things You Must Know About the Systems Alliance - TheGamer [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Humans could be living in a 'floating asteroid belt colony' in 15 years' time, scientist says - New Zealand Herald [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Elon Musk's plan to send one million people to Mars boosted with colonisation 'solution' - Daily Express [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Starships Will be Launching From These Oil Drilling Platforms Bought by SpaceX - Universe Today [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Humans could move to a floating asteroid belt colony within 15 years, top scientist suggests - pennlive.com [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Opinion | Why Biden must pursue space diplomacy with Russia and China - Politico [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Newly Invented Fusion Rocket Thruster Concept Might be Our Ticket to Mars and Beyond! - Tech Times [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Jeff Bezos Renews Focus on Blue Origin, Which Has Been Slower to Launch - The New York Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Attention foodies: $500,000 on offer if you find a way to feed astronauts [details] - IBTimes India [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- NASA and CSA Will Give $500,000 To The Best Idea of Food Production In Space - Science Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- "The Expanse" shows the dangers of treating extremism as a joke - Salon [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Elon Musk opens up about Mars, Gamestop and Dogecoin | Heres everything he said - Republic World [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- How Elon Musk And A Mission To Mars Might Boost Internet Speeds In The Rural Midwest | netnebraska.org - NET Nebraska [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- College student with Lumberton ties starts company focused on removing oil from wildlife - The Robesonian [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Mars is an example of something that's useless. There are others - Real Change News [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- A Spanish startup is offering trips to space in helium balloons as a cheaper alternative to SpaceX - Business Insider [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Elon Musk, once again the world's richest person, is selling all his possessions so people know he's serious about colonizing Mars - Business Insider... [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- UAE's Hope probe beams back its first picture of Mars - New Atlas [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- The geopolitics of NASA's Perseverance mission to Mars - Quartz [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- 'Glitch in the Matrix' director on simulation theory - Los Angeles Times [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Were Still Dreaming of Mars and Martians - The Wall Street Journal [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Why are there so many missions to Mars? - The Economist [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- Space Foundation Discovery Center hosts Mars Week as NASAs Perseverance rover set to land Thursday - FOX21News.com [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- The Quest to Live on Mars: Could Humans Really Survive? - Interesting Engineering [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- This is the first image taken by NASAs Perseverance Mars rover. Now the hunt for life begins. - MIT Technology Review [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2021]
- 100 artists find inspiration at Manship during the pandemic - Gloucester Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Stromatolites Fossils of Earliest Life on Earth May Owe Their Very Existence to Viruses - SciTechDaily [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Mars landing 'essential' if we want to send humans to the Red Planet 'Robotic companions' - MSN UK [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Hitting the Books: How NASA survived the Reagan era 'Dark Ages' - Engadget [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- How will Nasa rover look for aliens on Mars? Cameras, helicopter and more revealed - The Sun [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Why Turkey's race to space is a good thing - TRT World [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Perseverance goes to Mars with equipment needed to gather new information - The Robesonian [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- The race to live on Mars - Conversations - ABC News [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Nasa to reveal stunning first footage of Mars Perseverance rover touching down on the Red Planet - The Sun [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Mars rover could answer questions here on Earth - The Union Leader [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Nasa releases first recording of rover DRIVING on Mars but mystery noise leaves them baffled... - The Sun [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2021]