// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Space Mining
Space mining involves extracting valuable resources like water, metals, or minerals from asteroids, the Moon, or other celestial bodies.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Space Mining, or asteroid/lunar mining, is the hypothetical or nascent industry focused on extracting valuable raw materials such as water ice, platinum-group metals, or rare earth elements from extraterrestrial bodies for in-space utilization or return to Earth.
BACKGROUND
Asteroid mining is the hypothetical and technically possible extraction of materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Asteroid Mining
- Lunar Mining
- Extraterrestrial Resource Extraction
- Off-Earth Mining
USAGE NOTE
Space mining could provide essential resources for long-duration space missions and reduce reliance on Earth-based supplies.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Space Mining.
AstroForge is a private space resources company focused on developing technologies for asteroid mining, with the goal of extracting valuable materials from near-Earth asteroids.
ispace is a lunar exploration company that designs and builds lunar landers and rovers. The company's long-term vision includes developing capabilities for lunar resource utilization, particularly extracting water ice from the Moon's poles.
Honeybee Robotics develops advanced robotic systems for space exploration, including tools and mechanisms for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) such as drills, excavators, and sample acquisition systems crucial for lunar and planetary mining.
OffWorld develops industrial artificial intelligence and robotic systems designed to operate in extreme environments on Earth and beyond. Their technology is being adapted for applications in lunar and asteroid mining.
Through various research centers (e.g., Glenn Research Center, Kennedy Space Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory), NASA conducts extensive research and development in In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), focusing on technologies for extracting and processing resources from the Moon and Mars for future human missions and a space economy.
ESA is actively investing in and coordinating research on In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), particularly for lunar resources. They fund projects and develop technologies aimed at extracting water, oxygen, and other materials from the Moon's surface to support sustainable lunar presence.
TransAstra is developing innovative technologies for space resource extraction, including optical mining concepts for asteroids and space debris. Their 'Mini Bee' technology aims at asteroid capture and processing.
Karman+ focuses on building infrastructure for the in-space economy, including capabilities for in-space manufacturing and resource utilization. This includes developing systems that could eventually support the processing of materials extracted through space mining.