MSNBC scoop on the billionaire asteroid mining deal

[StefanJ]

The rumors have been flying for a week or so.

MSNBC claims a scoop on the first real details:

https://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_ne...ing-venture-starts-with-space-telescopes?lite

Snippets:

The venture known as Planetary Resources eventually plans to go asteroid mining — but the first step in the billionaire-backed business plan is to launch an orbital fleet of "personal space telescopes" capable of looking out into the heavens or back down on Earth.

Planetary Resources' ultimate goal is to set up a commercial infrastructure for fueling trips far beyond Earth orbit, with Planetary Resources controlling the equivalent of oil wells, refineries and filling stations in outer space. That's the long-term promise of near-Earth asteroids.

"A water-rich asteroid would greatly enhance the large-scale exploration of the solar system," Anderson said in a news release. "Water has many uses in space. For instance, it would not only be used for hydration, but also would be broken down into oxygen and hydrogen, for breathable air and rocket propellant."

So, this is a long-term multi-step scheme.

Build private space telescopes

Locate carbonaceous asteroids

Set up stations to extract volatiles from them for use as fuel.

And from THERE go on to serious asteroid mining for actual minerals.

 

[Marc_G]

I'd be very interested in seeing the business model that they use to attract investors. This is a long term play (decades before the first hope of payoff). Few have that kind of vision...