Planetary Resources discussion thread

[The Mikado]

Because there isn't a thread elsewhere on here.

Thoughts re: asteroid mining?  Now that it looks like an actual thing that could occur in the coming decades rather than a pipe dream?

What will happen to the Paul family in the 2030s when Planetary Resources drags in hundreds of tons of asteroid gold and the price of gold goes down 75%?

[True Federalist]

Right now, it looks like the most valuable material to be mined would be ice for use as rocket fuel, and we'd need to be far more active in the space beyond LEO than we currently are for that to be worthwhile.  We may see an asteroid mining venture in my lifetime, but it won't be profitable.  Maybe some of the youngs on this site will be able to own a piece of a money making asteroid mining company, but not me.

[dead0man]

I believe the "smarts" say that Helium-3 mining on the moon will be the real money maker.  We need a cheaper way to get weight into orbit first though...but once you've got sh**t in orbit, the rest is gravy.