Submission + - Companies plan to mine precious metals on asteroids, moon (tech-stew.com)
techfun89 writes: "Two start-up companies are attempting to enter the science realm as well as make a business and entertainment out of the idea that these sources in space can be mined and brought back to Earth for use in cell phones and other electronics as well as other space missions.
Planetary Resources, with such names as James Cameron and Google executives Larry Page and Eric Schmidt will hold a press conference today at 1:30 p.m. ET to announce what it calls a "new space venture with a mission to help ensure humanity's prosperity."
According to company co-founder Peter Diamandis, it has been estimated that a single 100-foot-long asteroid could contain $25 billion to $50 billion in platinum. Of the nearly 8,900 known near-Earth Asteroids, about 100 or 150 are water-rich and actually easier to reach than the surface of the moon.
The first task for the Bellevue, Washington Planetary Resources will be putting a telescope into Earth orbit within two years to survey near-Earth asteroids that contain precious metals and water. Within four years, mining could begin on the objects according to company co-founder Eric Anderson. Mining operations would be enabled with groups of unmanned spacecraft.
Another company, Moon Express of Mountain View, California said they have recruited five top lunar scientists to join its board to make plans to mine metals on the moon.
Due to the asteroids striking the moon throughout time, there are deposits of heavy metals on the surface of the moon."
Planetary Resources, with such names as James Cameron and Google executives Larry Page and Eric Schmidt will hold a press conference today at 1:30 p.m. ET to announce what it calls a "new space venture with a mission to help ensure humanity's prosperity."
According to company co-founder Peter Diamandis, it has been estimated that a single 100-foot-long asteroid could contain $25 billion to $50 billion in platinum. Of the nearly 8,900 known near-Earth Asteroids, about 100 or 150 are water-rich and actually easier to reach than the surface of the moon.
The first task for the Bellevue, Washington Planetary Resources will be putting a telescope into Earth orbit within two years to survey near-Earth asteroids that contain precious metals and water. Within four years, mining could begin on the objects according to company co-founder Eric Anderson. Mining operations would be enabled with groups of unmanned spacecraft.
Another company, Moon Express of Mountain View, California said they have recruited five top lunar scientists to join its board to make plans to mine metals on the moon.
Due to the asteroids striking the moon throughout time, there are deposits of heavy metals on the surface of the moon."