Google execs and James Cameron backing asteroid mining project
80 replies, posted
[quote]A mysterious company called [b]Planetary Resources[/b] will be unveiling itself next Tuesday, April 24, according to an announcement received by MIT’s Technology Review. [b]The company is described as a space exploration company that is aimed at expanding Earth’s resource base and is backed by Google execs Larry Page and Eric Schmidt as well as film maker and explorer James Cameron, among other big names.[/b]
Leading the event is visionary Peter H. Diamandis, M.D., commercial space entrepreneur Eric Anderson, former NASA Mars mission manager Chris Lewicki, and planetary scientist and veteran NASA astromaut Tom Jones, Ph.D. The event will take place at the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery at The Museum of Flight in Seattle and will be webcast, [b]unveiling a “new space venture with a mission to help ensure humanity’s prosperity.”[/b]
[b]The project aims to add trillions of dollars to the global GDP and create a new industry and a new definition of natural resources.[/b] It’s sure eerily reminiscent of Cameron’s own blockbuster movie, Avatar, where the evil humans mine other planets, seeking the very precious and rare “Unobtanium” for the prosperity of Earth. But hopefully with Cameron’s backing, he’ll make sure the project doesn’t go that route. [/quote]
[url]http://www.slashgear.com/google-execs-and-james-cameron-backing-asteroid-mining-project-18223449/[/url]
This is awesome.
If this is realized and they actually do succeed it may become a great milestone in the history of mankind. Seeing all those famous rich people backing this project is wonderful.
I knew I made the right choice by deciding to major in aerospace engineering.
If they find rare earth minerals in space, will they be called rare space minerals?
Ooh, maybe now all those more socially-minded billionaires will start funding space stuff, like Richard Branson.
In before Richard Branson
Edit - Damn
[QUOTE=Dr.C;35629675]I knew I made the right choice by deciding to major in aerospace engineering.
If they find rare earth minerals in space, will they be called rare space minerals?[/QUOTE]
What if they're not rare in space?
Edit - woops
Setting reminder to buy stocks ASAP.
Are there asteroids made out of solid gold or something? It seems minding just a small amount of material would be extremely expensive.
[img]http://images.wikia.com/deadspace/images/e/e6/Deadspacewideship_rotated.jpg[/img]
First the monolith, then traces of life found on Mars, now this...
Oh god... They're coming...
[QUOTE=Mingebox;35629737]Are there asteroids made out of solid gold or something? It seems minding just a small amount of material would be extremely expensive.[/QUOTE]
The resources in space are so abundant it's ridiculous. We just need a way to get them, which these guys are exploring.
[QUOTE=Mingebox;35629737]Are there asteroids made out of solid gold or something? It seems minding just a small amount of material would be extremely expensive.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]At 1997 prices, a relatively small metallic asteroid with a diameter of 1.6 km (0.99 mi) contains more than 20 trillion US dollars worth of industrial and precious metals.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]The asteroid 16 Psyche is believed to contain 1.7×1019 kg of nickel–iron, which could supply the 2004 world production requirement for[B] several million years[/B]. A small portion of the extracted material would also be precious metals.[/QUOTE]
[editline]19th April 2012[/editline]
From Wiki
Edit: Of course they are assuming we are able to mine a whole asteroid, which won't be the case unless they are thinking of smashing it on Earth.
[QUOTE=Mingebox;35629737]Are there asteroids made out of solid gold or something? It seems minding just a small amount of material would be extremely expensive.[/QUOTE]
A single asteroid can contain more metals than have ever been mined in the history of humankind.
[QUOTE=Swebonny;35629800][editline]19th April 2012[/editline]
From Wiki
Edit: Of course they are assuming we are able to mine a whole asteroid, which won't be the case unless they are thinking of smashing it on Earth.[/QUOTE]
One of those Metallic asteroids could pay off the entire US debt and leave us enough to spare, TO SPACE I SAY!
Holy [I]shit[/I]
If this succeeds, it'll completely restructure the world's economy.
It'll virtually end the prices of half the world's industries by over abundance of supplies.
Please let this take off into something incredible! Imagine how much this could change our world for the better!
[QUOTE=zombini;35629846]One of those Metallic asteroids could pay off the entire US debt and leave us enough to spare, TO SPACE I SAY![/QUOTE]
Of course you realize that if such a situation were to actually happen, you'd have hyper inflation go in with those metals to the point of where it's almost "worthless" in value to the point of being cheaper than ultra cheap plastc, and may actually crash the economy once again. Which is what happened to Spain back in the Imperial times when they went to the new world, and first discovered lots of silver. They became one of the leading economic super-powers from all their silver, but because their entire economy basically relied on silver coin production to the point where there was a huge abundance of it flowing around Europe after a short period of time, it ended up tanking them. As their major source of wealth suddenly held no value.
Though other precious metals can be used for far more than currency/wealth, so it's not so bad should an abundance of those be harnessed and found.
[QUOTE=Killer900;35629899]Please let this take off into something incredible! Imagine how much this could change our world for the better![/QUOTE]
Despite a few hardcore ideological differences, a vast majority of the world's conflicts arise from resource demands.
World peace, anyone?
Yes, please!
I'd work as a space mineral miner. Sounds bad ass.
[QUOTE=KorJax;35629907]Of course you realize that if such a situation were to actually happen, you'd have hyper inflation go in with those metals to the point of where it's worthless, and may actually crash the economy once again. Which is what happened to Spain back in the Imperial times when they went to the new world, and first discovered lots of silver. They became one of the leading economic super-powers, but because their entire economy basically relied on silver coin production to the point where there was a huge abundance of it flowing around Europe after a short period of time, it ended up tanking them. As their major source of wealth suddenly help no value.
Though other precious metals can be used for far more than currency/wealth, so it's not so bad should an abundance of those be harnessed and found.[/QUOTE]
I think the point is for replenishing our supply and making valuable construction materials dirt cheap. Rather than hoarding riches.
Huh what do you know, the plot element I used in my sci-fi story for future Earth is actually happening, Neato.
[QUOTE=kevaughan;35629917]I'd work as a space mineral miner. Sounds bad ass.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like it would pay a shit load.
I want to get into this industry where do I sign up.
Brb, buying stock
I may not cash in for a long time, but maybe my children will eventually.
Too bad we won't find oil in space.
Reading this gave me shivers.
This video explains just why;
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPM-vKpiKR0[/media]
[QUOTE=Swebonny;35629800][editline]19th April 2012[/editline]
From Wiki
Edit: Of course they are assuming we are able to mine a whole asteroid, which won't be the case unless they are thinking of smashing it on Earth.[/QUOTE]
Maybe they could smash it into the moon and mine it from there. Though I don't think many people would be comfortable with a stunt like that.
[QUOTE=Mingebox;35630256]Maybe they could smash it into the moon and mine it from there. Though I don't think many people would be comfortable with a stunt like that.[/QUOTE]
Put it into earth orbit to make it more accessible. Two moons anyone?
aeiou
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