Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
Scientists have explored the potential of asteroids as a rich source of valuable metals and minerals, offering vast quantities of resources that could sustain humans for millions of years.
Many of the heavy metals essential for modern technology have been scarce on Earth's surface, having sunk deep into the planet's core during its molten stage. However, these metals have been abundant in asteroids, which have been remnants of early planet formation.
Asteroid 16 Psyche alone has been estimated to have contained a staggering 22 billion billion pounds of nickel and iron, essential elements used in various industrial applications, from construction to electronics.
Despite their potential, accessing asteroids has posed significant logistical challenges due to their immense distance from Earth. Launching spacecraft to rendezvous with asteroids has required vast amounts of fuel, increasing the complexity and cost of such missions.
Once mined, asteroids have presented another dilemma: whether to refine the ore on-site or transport it back to Earth. Setting up refining facilities in space has been costly, while shipping raw ore back to Earth has involved dealing with waste and logistical complexities.
NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission has aimed to address these challenges by capturing a boulder from a nearby asteroid and bringing it back to cislunar space for study. This mission has utilized solar electric propulsion for efficient movement of the asteroid.
Despite the cancellation of the Asteroid Redirect Mission, the concept has remained viable. Recent studies have identified asteroids that could have been brought into near-Earth orbit with existing propulsion technologies, facilitating easier access and testing of mining strategies.
Capturing asteroids has not only opened opportunities for resource extraction but has also served as a potential safeguard against Earth-threatening asteroids. By mastering asteroid redirection techniques, humanity has gained a crucial tool for planetary defense.