A recent study led by researchers from the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) has shed new light on the feasibility of asteroid mining, a concept that had assembled significant attention in the past but was subsequently put on hold due to technological and infrastructural limitations. The team, led by Dr. Josep M. Trigo-RodrÃguez, a theoretical physicist from the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE) and the Catalonian Institute of Space Studies (IEEC) in Barcelona, analyzed samples of C-type (carbon-rich) asteroids, which comprise 75% of known asteroids.
Their findings suggest that these asteroids could be a vital source of raw materials, presenting opportunities for future resource exploitation. Carbonaceous chondrites (C chondrites), a type of asteroid, frequently fall to Earth, but are rarely retrieved for study due to their fragile nature, which often causes them to fragment and be lost.
The majority of retrieved C chondrites have been found in desert regions, including the Sahara and Antarctica. The study's results demonstrate that C-type asteroids could provide a crucial source of resources, supporting the notion of asteroid mining as a viable option for future space-based industries. However, further research is needed to determine the chemical composition of small asteroids and to develop the necessary infrastructure ← →
A few years ago, asteroid mining was all the rage. With the commercial space sector rapidly growing, the dream of commercializing space seemed ...Related materials: See here
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