ASTEROID MINING
Develop an approach for characterizing the composition of asteroid for mining potential and a process for mining different compositions. Explore a possible division of labor involving different types of vehicles (e.g. sensor units, drilling units, power gathering and distribution, extracted resources handling and transferring). Consider solutions for moving said asteroids between different orbits and/or consequently make periodical adjustments to keep them in place. Analyze how your idea would cope in some of the given scenarios or outline a scheme of your own.
This project explains about the procedure of asteroid mining using drone. The drone is sent for scanning the asteroid and scan the amount of minerals present in it ,from International Space Station . The data is sent back to space station and after analysis of data drones are sent for mining process and divert it to the most favorable orbit.
The whole extraction process has different stages , as follows ;
- The International Space Station detects the near Earth objects and differentiates between Asteroids and other objects . (potential asteroid,s found till now)
Real time location of asteroids
- Then Asteroid is chosen according to the graph given by X-ray photo-electron spectrometer (XPS) which measures the elemental composition to characterize the minerals present in the asteroid ( different metals graph ).
- Scanning
A good way to determine an asteroid's composition from a distance is to analyze its light. All materials reflect, emit, and absorb light at specific colors or frequencies depending on the properties of the material. The make-up of a material can be identified using special instruments called spectrometers which measure the intensity of light at different frequencies. There are two types of spectrometers :
[1] Ultraviolet Spectroscopy : Determination of different analysts of highly conjugated organic compounds and macro molecules . ( for internal scanning)
[2] X-ray Photo-electron Spectroscopy : it measures the elemental composition which characterizes the mineral present . (for surface scanning)
- Drone for extraction
After scanning of asteroids ;an asteroid is selected based on feasibility and drones are sent for extraction.
OSIRIS-REx (an NASA initiative for asteroid mining )
CONSTRUCTION OF DRONE :
The drone consists of a propaltion system , scanning device, drilling unit , storage unit .
- EXTRACTION , STORAGE , TRANSFERRED
The drone is attached with the Asteroid and it takes it on a certain orbit which is around the International Space Station . Then the extraction process is started by the drilling unit and minerals are stored in storage unit which is made up of aluminum based fabric mixed with zinc . When the asteroid is near the Space Station during the orbit , the minerals are transferred to Space Station . Now from here the minerals can be used for development on Mars (as an help for Mars development) or sent to Earth .
- DELIVERING AND FUTURE VISION
The most lucrative opportunity might be platinum-group metals—one category of the few space commodities that would be shipped back to Earth. "These materials enable so many different high-tech processes that we use," Lewicki says. Today, platinum-group metals are essential to catalytic converters in petroleum engines, as catalysts in the production of silicone, and in the manufacturing of glass. They are incorporated into hard drives; in spark plugs, where their low corrosion rates allow 100,000-mile life spans; and in medical devices, where they are prized for their biocompatibility.
A 500-ton asteroid with 0.0015 percent platinum metals—a common percentage—would have three times the richest concentration found on Earth. "To have more of this material will open up economies that we can't even predict," Lewicki says.
But most asteroid commodities will only be marketable in a future where ambitious spaceflight is a regular human activity; for example, extraterrestrial depots where space travelers could top off their fuel tanks and water supplies while on long trips. If there are no such trips, there is no business model.
Similarly, the idea that common metals will be useful in space is predicated on a manufacturing industry that is building space stations and spacecraft in orbit. Assembling structures in space, rather than launching them from Earth, is appealing because it avoids the cost of launch. A lack of orbital construction or the advent of cheaper launch systems could obviate this business.
If space stations are growing food for full-time residents, they could become lucrative markets for more than iron and steel. Asteroid-derived nitrogen and ammonia would be in demand for fertilizer. Such industries are vital if humans are to make their home in space. "We're talking about technologies that break the umbilical cord to Earth," Lewis says.
Planetary Resources' scheme is more than a business plan, it's a rose-colored blueprint for supporting space exploration. Its existence speaks to humanity's drive to explore, to spread, and to support the most audacious of our dreams.
App for locating asteroid
