Re:NASA Puts Jet Propulsion Lab on Blast over Psyche Mission...
by imiric on Sunday November 06, 2022 @04:30AM
(#33490749)
> It is odd to mention expense for terrestrial mining in this context.
Only to point out that it's not "worth a lot more", nor that it's "ready to be dug up".
> Asteroid material will become important once orbital construction has seriously taken off, after Musk is long dead.
Possibly, but Mars exploration is an even longer-term bet, which has little to no financial benefits.
Considering Musk has experience in boring, space, and starting outlandish ventures, asteroid mining seems like a good fit. It could be a lucrative shorter-term project, that could fund his Mars and beyond exploration goals. It might even be achievable within his lifetime, by focusing on near-Earth objects.
Granted, this is all speculation from a layperson, but I'm curious if this has ever been considered.
Only to point out that it's not "worth a lot more", nor that it's "ready to be dug up".
> Asteroid material will become important once orbital construction has seriously taken off, after Musk is long dead.
Possibly, but Mars exploration is an even longer-term bet, which has little to no financial benefits.
Considering Musk has experience in boring, space, and starting outlandish ventures, asteroid mining seems like a good fit. It could be a lucrative shorter-term project, that could fund his Mars and beyond exploration goals. It might even be achievable within his lifetime, by focusing on near-Earth objects.
Granted, this is all speculation from a layperson, but I'm curious if this has ever been considered.