// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Asteroid Belt
A region of space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids in our solar system are found, along with the dwarf planet Ceres.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The Asteroid Belt is a circumstellar disc in the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter, populated by irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids and dwarf planet Ceres, remnants from the early solar system.
BACKGROUND
China has one of the most active space programs in the world. With launch vehicles of the Long March rocket family and four spaceports, China conducts the most or second most orbital launches each year. China's fleet of over 1,300 Earth orbit satellites serves communication, navigation, reconnaissance and scientific research. China Manned Space Program operates Tiangong, one of two active space stations alongside the International Space Station (ISS). China National Space Administration (CNSA) has achieved robotic rover, lander, and orbiter missions to the Moon and Mars.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Main Belt
- asteroid field
USAGE NOTE
The Asteroid Belt is a potential source of space resources and a target for scientific missions studying solar system formation.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Asteroid Belt.
NASA conducts extensive research and missions related to asteroids, including the Psyche mission targeting a metallic asteroid in the main belt, and the OSIRIS-REx mission for sample return from a near-Earth asteroid, contributing to understanding asteroid composition and resource potential.
ESA is involved in asteroid research and missions, including potential future resource utilization concepts and planetary defense initiatives, contributing to the broader understanding and interaction with asteroids.
JAXA has pioneered asteroid sample return missions with Hayabusa and Hayabusa2, providing invaluable data on asteroid composition and developing technologies crucial for future asteroid exploration and resource utilization.
AstroForge is a startup explicitly focused on asteroid mining, aiming to extract and refine resources in space. They are developing technology for in-space resource processing and payload delivery to asteroids.
TransAstra is developing optical mining technology and space logistics solutions for asteroid resource utilization, aiming to enable the cost-effective harvesting of resources from asteroids.
Maxar Technologies designs and manufactures spacecraft and robotic systems, including the Psyche spacecraft for NASA, which is destined for a metallic asteroid in the main asteroid belt, contributing to deep space exploration capabilities.
Honeybee Robotics develops advanced robotic systems for space exploration, including drills and sample acquisition tools that are critical for future asteroid mining and scientific missions.
The Aerospace Corporation provides independent technical expertise and research for space systems, including studies on asteroid characterization, resource utilization strategies, and planetary defense, supporting the strategic development of space economy.