Will humans ever mine other planets like Mars for natural resources? Are there any valuable natural resources in other planets? I reckon in the future we will exploit other planets and space more just like we exploit earth. Its all cost at the mo I suppose. But Im sure we will work our way around that problem.
2006-07-08 05:16:39 · 11 answers · asked by K 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I am sure there are. Earth has some very valuable minerals, metals and rare earths in very limited supply. It is highly likely that these will be more readily available on other planets. It is also quite likely that entirely new minerals, metals and gem stones will be found.
2006-07-08 05:22:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 13⤊ 4⤋
Only on planets made of rock. The planets made of gas will be too unstable to mine anything (using our current technology) - and we'd only be able to mine the things the gas planets are made of (and those elements are pretty unstable themselves). We could possibly mine Mercury, Mars, asteriods and possibly Pluto - as those are the only rock planets (other than us!) in the solar system. Mercury would be difficult because of its extreme heat and Pluto is so far away that it would be almost impossible in the next ten-twenty lifetimes to get that far with a mining crew. So yes, there are ores (mars has ice and ice equals water) out there that we could exploit. But its just the man power and the time that is holding us back. And I think people are more interested in exploring the planets around us rather than plurging them.
2006-07-08 16:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by Marilynne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many valuable minerals on other planets and in the asteroid belt. But it is unlikely that we will be mining these minerals for a very very long time simply due to the enormous cost of getting to them, retrieving them and bringing them back to earth.
2006-07-08 12:33:35 · answer #3 · answered by Patrick B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out Space.com for a bunch of space-related info.
I know I heard that there are quantities of hydrogen and methane on the planets and moons that exist in abundance. The difficulty is building the proper facilities to mine and process these materials.
It can be done, and probably will,but it won't happen overnight.
2006-07-08 12:45:37 · answer #4 · answered by ANTHONY M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of valuable metals to mine in the asteroid belt. The problem is the cost of getting there, mining it and brining it back is far more than what you would earn.
2006-07-08 12:21:53 · answer #5 · answered by Kenny ♣ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who knows?
We should concentrate on this little Planet of ours
and make it a paradise to live in for everybody.
2006-07-08 12:24:48 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Probably, but there's no way of knowing until humans get off their complacent rears and GO FIND OUT!
2006-07-08 12:22:04 · answer #7 · answered by claudiagiraffe 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. There will be no oil or gas. There will be metals and frozen water that will be converted to hydrogen for fuel
2006-07-08 15:07:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm, until we send probes out we won't be sure, maybe in another solar system.
2006-07-08 12:20:10 · answer #9 · answered by Bryan K.S. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sure there is. It's just a matter of time when we'll go.
2006-07-08 12:30:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋