Do you think it would be possible to mine the Asteroid Belt for prcious minerals, metal, or Gas trapped inside the rocks? How should we do it? Should we use robots or Humans?
2006-07-17 12:02:24 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I think it would be very difficult to do entirely with robots. I think you would need both humans and automated equipment...at least in the initial stages. Perhaps humans could set up equipment that would then work autonomously.
Responding to some of linwood's comments:
>> 1. too much energy would be required to get there. and do the work.
Define "too much."
>> 2. how would you get the stuff back to earth.
Materials minded on asteroids would be for use in space, not on Earth. It would use less energy to get the raw materials in space than to bring everything up from Earth's enormous gravity well.
>> 3. certainly people would not want to be there.
I'm sure there are plenty of people that would apply for such jobs. I'm guessing the pay would be very good (but where would you spend the money?)
>> 4. it's VERY unlikely that there'll be any precious metals there.
Au contrare, some asteroids are known to be very rich in metals...up to 95% nickel, for example. In fact, many asteroids a have far greater concentrations of useful ores than we can easily get to on Earth. But, yeah, for now it's still easier to get them on Earth.
Bottom line, if we are to colonize space, asteroids represent the greatest source of raw material to build with.
2006-07-17 13:20:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is very possible, the problem is landing on one with out crashing into something.
2006-07-17 12:06:30 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
before we get that far, we wont need any of it.
2006-07-17 12:08:56 · answer #3 · answered by de bossy one 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why would you?
2006-07-17 12:23:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋