artist’s impression of asteroid mining by planetary resources (image: planetary resources, courtesy gizmag)
Planetary Resources shows off full-scale asteroid mining prototype. Reblogged from gizmag, 23 January 2013
The reality of this is rapidly approaching; isn’t it time to review relevant international conventions to ensure they are comprehensive and up to date?
The Arkyd-100 is the first in a series of different spacecraft that Planetary Resources is developing for asteroid mining. In this case, it’s a space telescope and technology demonstrator that will soon be employed for prospecting missions looking for likely mining candidates among near-Earth asteroids while also providing commercial Earth imaging and educational space telescope services.
The propulsion-less Arkyd-100 is small, with a fold-up telescope tube, deployable solar arrays, an integrated avionics bay, and instrument and sensor package at the back of large optical assembly that takes up most of the craft’s volume. There’s also innovative software that [Planetary Resources President and “Chief Asteroid Miner” Chris] Lewicki assures “is there,” though it can’t be seen.
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