The idea that asteroids contain untold riches is widespread. For example, the asteroid Psyche in the asteroid belt is worth ten quintillion dollars. The new study, funded by US startup AstroForge, sought to clarify what metals can be extracted from asteroids and what their true value is. Portal reports results UniverseToday (UniToday).
The study divides asteroid sources into two categories. The first is platinum metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium. They are expensive, rare and suitable for creating high-tech devices. The second are metals used for construction in space, such as iron, aluminum and magnesium. Their delivery to Earth is not economically viable due to their low cost, but they could be useful for building space stations or solar farms directly in space.
Scientists have questioned the theory that Psyche or other asteroids might be entirely metallic. However, even “ordinary” asteroids contain a significant amount of metal that is profitable to extract for mining purposes.
Of particular interest are the so-called “metal nuggets”. They may contain significantly higher concentrations of platinum metals than terrestrial ores. Such structures occur in rare L-type asteroids that have not yet been studied closely.
Asteroid mining faces a number of challenges. The small size of metal ingots makes processing difficult. The process of extracting metals requires energy-intensive technologies such as regolith electrolysis. And to create the necessary infrastructure, a closed loop is needed: the materials of building stations depend on energy, and energy sources depend on materials.
The study proves that space resources, especially platinum metals, can be an important element of the future economy and space exploration.
AstroForge is preparing to launch a new mission in January 2025 to study the composition of near-Earth asteroids. This data will help evaluate production and profitability prospects.
Previous scientists to create A way to protect Earth from dangerous asteroids.
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Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.