ASTEROID MINING S. SYED MOHAMED RAFEEK, , CEG, ANNA UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI.

OVERVIEW  INTRODUCTION  EXPLORATION  MINING METHODS  PROCESSING OF MATERIALS  TRANSPORTATION  CAPTURE OF ASTEROIDS  ASTEROIDS TO ASTRONAUTS  ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES  CONCLUSION  REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION  Based on known terrestrial reserves of minerals and growing consumption of it in developing countries, the minerals will be going to get exhaust in years.  Asteroids, sometimes called minor planets, are small, rocky fragments left over from the formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago  Asteroids contains platinum, gold, cobalt, nickel, iron etc.,  Asteroid mining refers is the possibility of exploiting raw materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects.

EXPLORATION  THE ARKYD SERIES 100: Spectroscopy and radar technology will be used to determine properties such as the asteroid’s chemical composition, orbit, rotation, size, shape and metal concentration.  THE ARKYD SERIES 200: To hitch a ride on a geostationary satellite in order to analyze asteroids at more close quarters. Micro-propulsion and imaging techniques to obtain high resolution data.  THE ARKYD SERIES 300: Focusing on asteroids much deeper in space. Laser communication technology is provided.

ARKYD SERIES 100 ARKYD SERIES 200 ARKYD SERIES 300

MINING METHODS  Mining and processing an asteroid is much less massive an operation than Earth mining  Loose regolith – scraper  Competent silicate matrix – drill and blast or cut  Silicates and ices or hydrocarbons – vaporization  Silicate and metal – cut and crush  Extensive metal – cut  Strip mining, materials obtained by magnetic rakes

PROCESSING OF MATERIALS CrushingSievingGrindingScreening Magnetic separation  Similar to that of a processing of minerals in Earth surface  require drilling, cutting and crushing

TRANSPORTATION  The transportation capability would be enabled by solar electric propulsion (SEP) system.  Fuel for propellant is provided by electrolysis of water  SEP system spirals to HEO in 2.2 years  SEP system heliocentric transfer to NEA in 1.7 years  Captured NEA to cis-lunar space into stable high lunar orbit in 2-6 years

CAPTURING OF ASTEROIDS

solar electric propulsion system

Asteroids to astronauts ASTRONAUTS TO ASTEROID ASTEROID TO ASTRONAUTS Six months travel time Six days travel time No rapid return Return in three days No resupply Resupply in three days Fixed, short stay times Indefinite stay times Much larger Δv, new vehicles required Smaller Δv required One asteroid per mission Potentially many asteroids per mission Repeat visits to same asteroid very difficult Repeat visits easy Cannot supply asteroid materials markets beyond science Potentially supply multiple asteroid materials markets Some contribution to planetary defense Includes full planetary defense system (detection and deflection) ASTEROIDS TO ASTRONAUTS

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ADVANTAGES:  Promise of resources to support Humanity’s long-term prosperity  Human’s expansion into the Solar System.  Deflection of some of the Impact-Threat objects.  Reduces the demand of precious metals like platinum, silver, gold etc.,  No Environmental pollution  No cost for space occupation

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES (CONTD.) DISADVANTAGES:  Threat of impacts delivering regional or global disaster.  Absence of gravity leads to serious health problems to astronauts.  Possibility of extraterrestrial life in space  Water for propellant can be generated by hydrogen cells which is extremely explosive.  Initial investment is more.  More time consuming process.

CONCLUSION  NASA report estimates that the mineral wealth of the asteroids in the asteroid belt might exceed $100 billion for each of the six billion people on Earth.  One of these asteroids would contain 30 million tons of nickel, 1.5 million tons of metal cobalt and 7,500 tons of platinum. The platinum alone would have a value of more than $150 billion. Thus, if this method has been carried out it will add trillions of dollars to the global economy.

REFERENCES  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_mining/    m   Windsor Chorlton Cold Fusion. Orion ISBN  John Baxter. The Hermes Fall. Granada (Panther) ISBN