Rare earth mines from space fly just a few thousand kilometers from Earth

With the development of science and technology, the prospect of exploiting resources on asteroids not far from Earth is gradually becoming a reality.

In 2024, the asteroid 2024 PT5 with a radius of about 10 meters traveled for nearly two months in Earth's orbit. This attracted great interest from scientists and representatives of the space industry. Such mini-satellites are still considered a potential target for future resource mining.

Asteroid 2024 PT5 hovers near Earth – rare metal mines are flying within reach. (Illustration photo, Source: FineNews)

Asteroids are believed to contain valuable rare earth metals such as platinum, cobalt, iron and gold – essential materials in the manufacture of electronic components and renewable energy technologies. NASA has previously estimated that the value of these materials could be in the billions of dollars, and that developing at least 10 promising and profitable asteroids could generate revenues in the trillions of dollars.

One significant advantage of mini-satellites is their relative proximity to Earth, which reduces transportation costs and makes mining them more cost-effective than reaching asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. However, such objects are notoriously difficult to detect and track – scientists have recorded fewer than a dozen similar cases over the past decade.

The unusual orbit of 2024 PT5 reveals the potential for resource extraction from near-Earth space. (Source: FineNews)

Space entrepreneurs are developing innovative technologies to capture and stabilize these objects’ orbits around Earth for mining purposes. Companies such as TransAstra and Tethers Unlimited, for example, have proposed using nets, ultraviolet light, and concentrated solar radiation to capture and process asteroids, extracting useful metals for transport back to Earth.

In academia, the search and study of small moons has been entrusted to facilities such as the Vera Rubin Observatory – which owns the world's largest digital camera. This device is expected to significantly expand the list of asteroids that can be mined in the near future.

The development of asteroid metal mining technology not only has the potential to change the entire rare metals market, but also opens up new horizons for space exploration and promotes the sustainable development of technologies on Earth.

Mr. Quang

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/mo-khai-thac-dat-hiem-tu-nhien-tu-vu-tru-bay-cach-trai-dat-chi-vai-nghin-km-ar966795.html