Planetary Resources, Inc.

[MadWizard25]

By now some of you might have heard about Planetary Resources going public with their long term plan for asteroid mining. Its awesome news that there will be a serious attempt at this, but im still a little skeptical. Big world altering projects by billionaires have been announced before, to no result, even if they are technically feasible. Also the current timescale seems impractical, but i guess they have to sell it that way. Maybe in 30 - 40 years we might see some serious results from this, but by then most the angel investors will be dead, and i hardly think they are all doing this out of altruism for the human race. Mining in as close to zero gravity as possible will likely also require decades to be practical and efficient. Then again, im a skeptic by default. Any thoughts?

 

Complimentary Pic

 

One of the most informative links i have found so far;

https://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/04/24/breaking-private-company-does-indeed-plan-to-mine-asteroids-and-i-think-they-can-do-it/

[stoppingby4now]

I think this is a good thing. I agree that it will be some time before their end vision is met, but there are several private companies/groups that are working towards some sort of space exploration or resource gathering. To date, it's been governments putting in all the effort and money (which comes from us) to get to where we are today. With more interest from private parties to get out there, who knows what will be accomplished or discovered.

[MontyMM]

If anyone spots a good real estate deal on a nice new planet, do let me know.

[z929669]

All I see from this is a bunch of greedy humans bringing new materials into a closed system and creating toxic biproducts that would otherwise not be added. I am of course assuming that they will attempt to mine precious metals and rare minerals rather than something useful like water.

[stoppingby4now]

Actually, one of the first things they hope to be able to gather is water, whether it be trapped inside the asteroid, or potentially as ice particles. Their first phase, however, is to get telescopes into space that can analyze objects.

 

While everything has the potential for a negative aspect, I'm not seeing anything that would indicate that would be the case here. As for the greed factor, It's obvious that they are decades away from being able to effectively mine on any scale worthy of bearing massive profits (assuming it's even viable to be worth it). But, in the end, profits are what keeps things going a step further, and I find the potential for new discoveries exciting. Not everyone is out to corrupt our planet and give us the shaft.

 

Time will tell.

[z929669]

@s4n

It sounds like you and Mad are properly educated on this particular subject and that my relative ignorance is being guided by my pessimistic nature

 

 

I certainly love the idea of exploration and knowledge gain --if not solely for the sake of adventure an knowledge themselves alone ;)

[MontyMM]

Here is an interesting article I read a while ago, tangentially related.

 

Hardly a fair practice to report both sides of a debate to suit one's argument, but some interesting points, nonetheless.

[z929669]

Here is an interesting article I read a while ago, tangentially related.

 

Hardly a fair practice to report both sides of a debate to suit one's argument, but some interesting points, nonetheless.

 

 

I think that article applies very well indeed to the underlying concepts of off-planet mining and my nay-saying of the intent of the miners (even though they actually ARE apparently looking for water!).

 

 

 

Great article ... people don't like to acknowledge the basic facts of thermodynamics and a closed system. I like the "idea" (or I would argue "reality") that true evolution is the realization that (change & development) = "growth" = sustainability .

Thanks!

[stoppingby4now]

I enjoyed that read, though I do agree with some comments further down that energy consumption is not easily expressed in terms of growth as it is defined today.

 

Bad decisions are being made everyday based on the greed factor, no doubt. But as with any system, at some point those bad decisions will be corrected, whether it be because they are forced to, because the masses rise up in protest, or an individual (or individuals) have the foresight to find a better solution. Personally, I find the latter to be more true today than ever before (but sadly not reported on enough and/or suppressed).

[MadWizard25]

Here is an interesting article I read a while ago, tangentially related.

 

Hardly a fair practice to report both sides of a debate to suit one's argument, but some interesting points, nonetheless.

 

 

Thanks for the article, was indeed a good read, if a bit depressing Had never considered that anthropomorphic addition of high entropy heat to the earth would dictate a steady state economy in such a short time. Sent this to a mate who studies physics, as well as discussed it with a relative who is deeply involved in the oil industry both on a technical and policy base. Both were flabbergasted by it. The physics student is actually still skeptible of the earth as an entropic system as it is laid out here, he believes it far more complicated. Interestingly, my relative made the point that currently it wouldnt be too hard to adapt drilling for oil on earth to drilling for water on asteroids, as well as liquid/ solid refining/ mining to a zero G environment. In his opinion, lack of gravity is not technically a problem; it would just require more energy.

[frihyland]

Fun read, I have to agree that Adam Smith would be appalled at the state of economic theory today. The only aspect (of modern economics) that I find practically useful is behavioral economics which sometimes actually makes sense.