Asteroid mining is the extraction of materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects. | Media.com

Chantelle Baier

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This is a 3D image of the type of device that will be used in the future for asteroid mining. At the front is the vacuum that will collect the asteroids so that minerals can be extracted.

Credit: NASA

Asteroid Mining

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This is the vacuum part of asteroid mining equipment. As you can see this is closer to being reality than many people think!

Credit: TransAstra and NASA

<h3>What is asteroid mining?</h3><p>Asteroids are mineral-rich deposits orbiting in outer space. Just like mining on planet Earth, valuable minerals can be extracted from these deposits, providing an additional, untapped resources for humankind to benefit from.&nbsp;</p><h3>4SPACE's involvement</h3><p>4SPACE is aligned with organizations with the technology and capabilities to undertake asteroid mining. &nbsp;We have written research papers for these organizations to help further their quest to bring these valuable minerals to Earth using very complex mining systems.</p><h3>Mining without gravity</h3><p>A key difference between mining on Earth and mining in outer space is gravity and the vacuum of space. &nbsp;Due to the lack of gravity in outer space, mining otherwise heavy minerals (e.g. titanium, platinum and others) requires a different approach to mining on Earth. &nbsp;</p><p>A currently favoured approach to asteroid mining is the use of bags to capture asteroids using complex proprietary systems that enable the valuable resources to be extracted for human benefit.</p>

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Asteroid mining is the extraction of materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects.