space systems. Their next spacecraft, the Arkyd-6, is slated
for launch later this year. This will be their second CubeSat
put into orbit after Arkyd-3 was deployed from the ISS last
year.
They are testing vital camera, telecommunication,
propulsion, and electric systems with their earlier craft.
Planetary Resources is also planning on establishing an
economic presence on earth with their Arkyd-100, which
is the first step to their Earth observation focused Ceres
program. Using Infrared and Hyperspectral imaging, Planetary Resources will be able to monitor temperature and
water content, as well as mineral refineries and crops.
This demonstration in Earth orbit will give the engineers
a chance to test out various key systems. Their long term
spacecraft, Arkyd-200 and Arkyd-300, are aiming to rendezvous, observe, and prospect the asteroids up close.
Artist’s concept for micro gravity foundry. Credit: Deep Space Industries
This will allow the company to start surveying near earth
asteroids for various resources, estimating their worth by
observing their shape, size, and composition.
While a competition could be brewing between first
two asteroid mining companies, a surprising force is driving the initial investment: Luxembourg. The small European
country has been in a partnership with both companies
and has pledged almost $230 million towards space mining companies. Currently, Luxembourg is working on a
legal framework to incentivize more countries, and hopes
to be the European powerhouse of space mining.
There are many challenges that we need to overcome,
both technical and legal. But one by one, those walls will
be torn down, humans have faced and overcome greater challenges before. The engineers of today are helping
to build the infrastructure for the engineers of tomorrow,
giving rise to new possibilities that today are still unimaginable. The ground work laid our by the space mining
companies will help fuel a whole new economy in space,
and could open the doors the rest of the solar system.
Interested in more? Check out our more in-depth article on NASA’s asteroid mission that is about to launch.
Start planning your own asteroid mission at Asterank.com,
compare the worth of asteroids and start inventing your
own ideas. Look further into these near future technologies with Deep Space Industries and Planetary Resources,
and explore the first generation of space mining missions
online.
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