Rocket Propelled Gordon
Well-known member
I think so, but discuss! It'd be interesting to see what your opinions are!
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Will asteroid mining solve all of our economical problems?
- Thread starter Rocket Propelled Gordon
- Start date
BTGBullseye
Master of Posts
First, we either need to develop drone tech to have drones mine asteroids for us, and be self repairing, or we need to develop a much better reentry vehicle.
Second, we need to improve our mining processes to use very high power lasers.
Third, we need to also build a refining station either in orbit, or in the asteroid belt.
Fourth, it will take many billions of dollars just to build the infrastructure for the operation, and there won't be any returns on it for quite some time. I know of no corporation in existence that has both the capitol, and the motivation, to essentially throw away billions on something that can't possibly have any returns for at least a year, and possibly never.
Fifth, I'm actually currently working on all but the fourth.
Second, we need to improve our mining processes to use very high power lasers.
Third, we need to also build a refining station either in orbit, or in the asteroid belt.
Fourth, it will take many billions of dollars just to build the infrastructure for the operation, and there won't be any returns on it for quite some time. I know of no corporation in existence that has both the capitol, and the motivation, to essentially throw away billions on something that can't possibly have any returns for at least a year, and possibly never.
Fifth, I'm actually currently working on all but the fourth.
Rocket Propelled Gordon
Well-known member
So it's a no? I would have thought a large amount of profit could have been reaped from such an action.
ThePest179
Well-known member
How?
Oh, it can, it's just extremely long term.
BTGBullseye
Master of Posts
I am working with some friends to design a drone mining system, (megawatt lasers included) and the orbital refinery systems.
Exactly.
Rocket Propelled Gordon
Well-known member
Exactly. Use the nitrogen and oxygen as fuel/air (if the mining ship is manned) and mine the rest of the stuff and take it to earth.
BTGBullseye
Master of Posts
Of course, but 90% of the uses for that material are on Earth, and so is 99.9% of the profit margin. Keeping all that material in space after mining/refining isn't going to be useful for making a corporation fund this multi-billion dollar expedition.
ThePest179
Well-known member
No, I mean how and where are you able to do what NASA could do?
BTGBullseye
Master of Posts
For the initial boost into space... Virgin Galactic, or the ISRO would work nicely.
For designing the drones and vehicles... Physics simulation has come a very long way in the past 30 years, and I can do most of the simulation in real-time on my laptop. I have plenty experience with in-atmosphere physics for flight and rocketry, and have done quite a bit of research into extra-atmosphere propulsion and design.
Right now the biggest problem is shielding the drones from the solar radiation and magnetics.
For designing the drones and vehicles... Physics simulation has come a very long way in the past 30 years, and I can do most of the simulation in real-time on my laptop. I have plenty experience with in-atmosphere physics for flight and rocketry, and have done quite a bit of research into extra-atmosphere propulsion and design.
Right now the biggest problem is shielding the drones from the solar radiation and magnetics.
ThePest179
Well-known member
That is one of the few things you've said that made some sense.
You do know that if you can do it, so can NASA, right?
BTGBullseye
Master of Posts
If they would even bother trying, they probly could. As it is, they just don't have the funding to be able to do more than they currently are, and the people in charge don't want them working on it.
It's a very interesting aspect of the bureaucracy controlling a scientific endeavor... They tend to make sure they don't go anywhere near anything that could affect life on Earth in any way.
It's a very interesting aspect of the bureaucracy controlling a scientific endeavor... They tend to make sure they don't go anywhere near anything that could affect life on Earth in any way.
Rocket Propelled Gordon
Well-known member
Science.
ThePest179
Well-known member
How much you want to bet that they have already, and just haven't made the things?
This is not a bureaucracy problem, it's a funding one.
Veyrdite
Well-known member
Interesting read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_hardening
I've helped out a satellite group for their balloon-altitude launch. We basically went 'who cares' at this level (I presume the Earth still shields us) but it will be interesting to see how things change now the group is aiming higher.
BTGBullseye
Master of Posts
Yeah, we're actually looking for a way to utilize consumer-grade electronics in our drone systems, since it's costs about 1/100th what hadrened electronics cost, and hardened still degrade way too fast for the uses intended. Also, it's more difficult for a drone to manufacture hardened components than it is to manufacture consumer-grade components. (remember, they are self-repairing)
Right now, we're looking at a form of electromagnetic shielding, (high-strength electromagnetic field surrounding the drone) and EM hardening of the component casings. Problems we're having is dust accumulation on the drone, and ways to prevent it. We might just have a cleaner drone design, or find some way to do something like a reverse polarity shield to repel the dust. (the dust is typically comprised of magnetized iron ore particles from the surface of the asteroids being mined)
Right now, we're looking at a form of electromagnetic shielding, (high-strength electromagnetic field surrounding the drone) and EM hardening of the component casings. Problems we're having is dust accumulation on the drone, and ways to prevent it. We might just have a cleaner drone design, or find some way to do something like a reverse polarity shield to repel the dust. (the dust is typically comprised of magnetized iron ore particles from the surface of the asteroids being mined)
ShakyOregon
Member
Why not skylon? whenever that comes out of development. If it does, because SSTO's are the way of the future.
BTGBullseye
Master of Posts
For a couple very big reasons...
1. It might not even work, so it's not good to bank on it.
2. Who knows when it'll be able to make it's first full test flight? The mining drones might be in place and mining before it gets it's first flight.
3. I can't find any info on who is going to be operating those things, so I can't tell if they could even be used to do this.
ShakyOregon
Member
Reusable methods in general are ideal. SSTO or chemical rockets anyway to save money is key. But you have to admit SSTO's are a pretty cool idea that could really benefit space travel.