Asteroids continue to captivate with the idea that they could hold vast wealth. Psyche, a prominent body in the main belt, is often cited as a target with extraordinary value. A recent study funded by the US startup AstroForge examines which metals can realistically be mined from asteroids and how profitable such ventures could be. Portal and Universe Today summarize the results, offering useful context for researchers and investors alike.
The research divides asteroid resources into two broad classes. The first covers platinum metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium. These metals are expensive and rare, and they play essential roles in high tech devices. The second category includes metals used for in-space construction, such as iron, aluminum and magnesium. While transporting these materials to Earth is not economically viable with current prices, they could underpin orbital infrastructure like space stations or solar farms built directly in orbit.
Experts question the idea that Psyche or other asteroids are entirely metallic. Still, even ordinary asteroids contain substantial quantities of metal that could be profitable, depending on extraction methods and the availability of energy.
Of particular interest are metal nuggets that may show higher concentrations of platinum metals than terrestrial ore deposits. Such formations appear in rare L-type asteroids that have not yet been studied in depth, offering potential economic incentives if future surveys confirm them.
Asteroid mining faces a number of challenges. The small size of metal ingots makes processing difficult. The extraction process demands energy-intensive technologies such as regolith electrolysis. Building the necessary infrastructure requires a closed loop: the materials used to construct stations depend on energy, and energy generation depends on those very materials.
The study concludes that space resources, especially platinum metals, could play a meaningful role in the future economy and in ongoing space exploration efforts.
A planned AstroForge mission for January 2025 aims to study the composition of near-Earth asteroids. The data gathered will help evaluate production potential and profitability for future ventures.
Historically, scientists have also explored strategies to defend Earth from dangerous asteroids, situating asteroid research within a broader safety and exploration framework.