The idea of exploiting the natural resources on asteroids has been around for more than a century. But a new company called Planetary Resources has the financial backing of some big names in high tech, and hopes to launch specially-designed prospecting spacecraft within two years.
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On Point: Mining Asteroids
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/04/27/mining-asteroids
In the old days, we sang about fear and fortune way down in the mines. This week, the mining talk was way up in space. Mining asteroids. A bunch of rich guys with big track records and big dreams have formed a new company – Planetary Resources – to chase down asteroids and suck out their riches. Platinum. Iridium. Water in space.
If it sounds like the movie Avatar, well, director James Cameron is in the venture. So are Google guys. And Microsoft money. Is this for real?
This hour, On Point: Planetary Resources founder Eric Anderson and more. We’re thinking about mining asteroids.
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Tech Entrepreneurs Bet Big On Asteroid Mining
The idea of exploiting the natural resources on asteroids has been around for more than a century. But a new company called Planetary Resources has the financial backing of some big names in high tech, and hopes to launch specially-designed prospecting spacecraft within two years.
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Off earth mining and galactic gas stations - Future Tense - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Rick Tumlinson is a US businessman whose ambition is to mine asteroids and to then use the material he extracts to power spacecraft and satellites. He talks of developing galactic "gas stations".