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• Position: Asteroid mining - Brief article

ASTEROID MINING

Asteroid mining may soon be a reality. Planetary Resources, Deep Space Industries, and other start-ups aim to extend their footprints into the solar system with the help of a few key resources.

PLATINUM

A rarity on Earth that's important in manufacturing of electronics

OTHER METALS

Makes it possible to start building goods 1n space

WATER

Allows voyaging spacecraft to refuel for the journeys ahead

Companies are targeting carbonaceous chondrite asteroids because they contain plenty of water and metals. The majority of known asteroids orbit in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Near-Earth asteroids are much closer to Earth, making them ideal for mining missions.

11,000

near-Earth asteroids have been identified.

No one is actually mining yet, but Planetary Resources already has a small testing satellite in space and some ambitious plans for the near future:

2015 The Arkyd 3R cubesat was...