What Do We Need to Know to Mine an Asteroid?

Astrogeology, Asteroids, Robots, Space Flight & Extraterrestrial Matters

Date posted: 09/22/17

The mining of resources contained in asteroids, for use as propellant, building materials or in life-support systems, has the potential to revolutionise exploration of our Solar System. To make this concept a reality, we need to increase our knowledge of the very diverse population of accessible Near Earth Asteroids (NEA). Last year, dozens of the world's leading asteroid scientists and asteroid mining entrepreneurs came together in Luxembourg to discuss key questions and identify scientific knowledge gaps. A White Paper outlining the results of that discussion, "Answers to Questions from the Asteroid Miners" will be presented at the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2017 in Riga on Tuesday 19th September by Dr JL Galache and Dr Amara Graps. "Asteroid mining is this incredible intersection of science, engineering, entrepreneurship and imagination," says Galache of Aten Engineering. "The problem is, it's also a classic example of a relatively young scientific field in that the more we find out about asteroids through missions like Hayabusa and Rosetta, the more we realize that we don't know." The aim of the Asteroid Science Intersections with In-Space Mine Engineering (ASIME) 2016 conference on September 21-22, 2016 in Luxembourg City was to provide an environment for the detailed discussion of the specific properties of asteroids, with the engineering needs of space missions that utilize asteroids. Outcomes of ASIME 2016 Conference produced a layered record of discussions from the asteroid scientists and the asteroid miners to understand each other's key concerns. The White Paper covers questions surrounding the need for asteroid surveys in preparing for mining missions, the asteroid's surface and interior, implications for astrobiology and planetary protection and other questions relating to policy and strategy for developing a road map for advancing asteroid in-space resource utilization. A number of knowledge gaps were identified: the asteroid miners need access to a map of known NEAs with an orbit similar to the Earth so that they can fine-tune their selection of potential targets. Many objects are – as yet – undiscovered, or very little is known about them, so there is also a need to develop a dedicated NEA discovery and follow-up program.