Where is the closest, safest route and location to find....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kilo Vectors
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and logistics of mining gold and platinum in space, particularly from asteroids, in a speculative future setting (2080-2100). Participants explore the economic justifications, technological capabilities, and potential stealth strategies for such operations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention existing plans to mine rare metals from asteroids, suggesting that this is a target for future exploration.
  • Concerns are raised about the feasibility of stealth in rocket launches, with the consensus that while the true purpose of a launch could be hidden, the launch itself cannot be concealed.
  • There is speculation about the timeline for such mining operations, with one participant expressing doubt that it will occur within the next one or two centuries.
  • Participants discuss the potential payloads that could be realistically brought back from asteroids, considering both valuable materials and the practicality of transport.
  • One participant questions whether mining asteroids is preferable to mining planets, noting that asteroids may offer higher concentrations of heavy metals.
  • Technological advancements in rocketry are mentioned, with one participant suggesting that costs must decrease significantly for space mining to be viable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the timeline and feasibility of space mining, with no clear consensus on when or how it might occur. There are differing opinions on the practicality of stealth in such operations and the comparative advantages of asteroids versus planets for mining.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about technological advancements and economic viability, as well as unresolved questions regarding the specifics of payload capacities and the nature of stealth operations.

Kilo Vectors
Messages
84
Reaction score
15
mine-able gold, and/or platinum in space, relative to earth? Say if i set my story in the year 2080-2100..a company sets out to secretly do this? also it must be economically justifiable of course, but let us assume increasing scarcity of already depleted gold and precious metals causes this very talented firm to explore this option as economically feasible
 
Physics news on Phys.org
There are plans already to mine various things from asteroids. Rare metals are often a target.
Stealth? You cannot hide a rocket launch. You can hide its true purpose, maybe, but then you need a good reason to launch anything to interplanetary space.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Kilo Vectors
mfb said:
There are plans already to mine various things from asteroids. Rare metals are often a target.
Stealth? You cannot hide a rocket launch. You can hide its true purpose, maybe, but then you need a good reason to launch anything to interplanetary space.

Yes sir, but somehow I feel it wll not take place any time before the next one or two centuries? What do you feel? Well about stealth,..it cannot be disguised I agree. Also, what would be a realistic payload to bring back? Say they have good technology but nothing too sci-fi. lol. Would it be possible to disguise a special vehicle satellite sized, that would be launched with several others at once, however go off to mine an asteroid. But isn't a planet a better option? one that has such vast reserves..if you know.
 
Kilo Vectors said:
Yes sir, but somehow I feel it wll not take place any time before the next one or two centuries? What do you feel?
Rocket launches have to get significantly cheaper, or get replaced by something else, but I can imagine that happening within this century. 85 years to go - 85 years ago (1931) we did not even have rockets that could go to space, and Lindbergh's flight over the Atlantic was just 4 years ago.
Kilo Vectors said:
Also, what would be a realistic payload to bring back?
Whatever is available on the asteroid and expensive enough in space or on Earth. If rockets are not replaced by something significantly cheaper, even hydrogen and oxygen can be interesting (to be used in space then).
Kilo Vectors said:
Would it be possible to disguise a special vehicle satellite sized, that would be launched with several others at once, however go off to mine an asteroid.
Maybe not impossible, but I still doubt that something like that could stay undetected.
Kilo Vectors said:
But isn't a planet a better option? one that has such vast reserves..if you know.
We have a planet right here, easily accessible. Asteroids are interesting because they have high concentrations of heavy metals - things that mainly went to the core of planets. It is also much easier to launch stuff from asteroids compared to launching stuff from planets.
 

Similar threads

Writing: Read Only What Does Great Lakes Earth Look Like from Space?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 231)
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 231)
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K