If all goes according to plan, this could be the first step toward space mining operations.
The probe, named Odin, launched on a SpaceX rocket, along with a lunar lander tasked with drilling for water and a lunar orbiter equipped with equipment built by Oxford University to map water resources.
The beginning of the space mining era
The asteroid survey mission is considered a risky but promising step, marking the beginning of the era of commercial exploitation of space resources. Odin's destination is asteroid 2022 OB5, which is believed to be rich in platinum and other rare metals, important elements in electronics, medicine and renewable energy.
Engineer Matt Gialich, co-founder of the start-up AstroForge, the company behind the mission, said the cost of mining platinum on Earth is currently up to $900 per ounce (equivalent to £25,000/kg).
"The problem is that the easily accessible sources of platinum on Earth have been exhausted. The remaining deposits are thousands of metres underground, extremely difficult to access. But in space, this resource is much more readily available and easier to exploit," Mr Gialich told Sky News.
Odin will take about 300 days to reach 2022 OB5, which is about 1.6 million kilometers from Earth. Once there, it will take close-up images of the asteroid's surface to confirm its metallic composition.
AstroForge’s next plan is to launch a second probe later this year to land on the asteroid and conduct more detailed analyses of platinum and other precious metals. If the results are positive, the first mining missions could be launched soon.
Space Metal Refining Technology
AstroForge has developed a low-energy refining technology that can produce 1,000 kg of high-quality metal in just three months, which will then be returned to Earth.
"Space exploration is cheaper than ever. The economics are starting to show that it's feasible. We can build and launch a low-cost spacecraft to test this idea," Mr. Gialich added.
Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London have analysed meteorites that have fallen to Earth, some of which are massive and shaped like chunks of metal.
Professor Sara Russell, a space mineral expert at the museum, said: "Metal asteroids are rarer than other space rocks, but they still make up a significant part of our collection, proving they are common in space. They are extremely rich in platinum, cobalt and nickel, which are very valuable elements."
A turning point for the future of resource exploitation
Gialich believes it is time to change the way we exploit resources to serve the modern economy. "The way we currently mine is one of the most damaging activities for the planet. We are destroying the Earth to maintain our way of life. Asteroid mining could usher in a new era where we still have enough resources but without damaging the blue planet."
If successful, this mission will not only mark an important turning point in the field of space mining but also completely change the way humans access resources, opening up a more sustainable future for both Earth and the space industry.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe/tau-odin-cat-canh-khoi-dau-ky-nguyen-khai-thac-khoang-san-ngoai-vu-tru-20250227164024914.htm
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