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#26 2025-10-28 05:48:23
- Calliban
- Member
- From: Northern England, UK
- Registered: 2019-08-18
- Posts: 4,291
Re: Asteroid/off-Earth mining
Starship could be used to launch large infrared telescopes. These would have enough resolution to identify near Earth asteroids down to a few metres across.
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2025/10/a … -2035.html
This is interesting because asteroids in the size range of a few to several tens of metres are the easiest to mine. We can enclose the entire asteroid in a bag and use grabber shovels to pull material off the surface. Useful metals can be seperated out and silicate wastes can be used as reaction mass to bring the useful materials back to high Earth orbit.
Some asteroids have orbits that require very little energy to reach beyond that needed for Earth escape. These are the ones we want to begin with. Large IR telescopes are a valuable tool for identifying these most promissing mining candidates.
Last edited by Calliban (2025-10-28 05:53:00)
"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."
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#27 2025-10-28 09:33:59
- Void
- Member
- Registered: 2011-12-29
- Posts: 9,201
Re: Asteroid/off-Earth mining
If you can tolerate it I will post in reply. Let me know if I should be less active.
Your post makes sense. I think proactively removing threats to Earth and eventually other planets, has a value of its own. Turning the materials into useful retrievable resources while doing science on them also would have value.
I have learned things from many sources such as you and also the anthrofuurism site: https://www.youtube.com/@Anthrofuturism
They have recently done a post about pyrolysis on the Moon, in some cases using Hydrogen.
My creativity if I have any is typically in combining things, which is a low-level type, but don't turn down a dump truck full of Nickles.
This morning I am looking at Pyrolysis with Hydrogen, using the Quaise Gyrotron.
Quote:
Copilot Search Branding
Images
Videos
Gyrotron to dig geothermal wells
Quaise Energy's gyrotron technology is set to revolutionize geothermal drilling by enabling the drilling of deep wells that access rock temperatures around 500 °C. This technology, originally developed for nuclear fusion experiments, has been repurposed to vaporize geological formations and drill to depths previously unreachable. The gyrotron drills use powerful microwaves to vaporize rock, allowing for the extraction of geothermal energy from deep within the Earth's crust. This innovative approach could potentially provide a renewable energy solution that meets 100% of the world's energy demand.
https://eepower.com/news/gyrotron-techn … l-energy/#
Quote:
Gyrotron Technology Goes Deep For Geothermal Energy
A gyrotron device, more commonly used in nuclear fusion experiments, may hold the key to globally accessible geothermal energy.News
Feb 06, 2025 by Kevin Clemens
So, this might go in two directions. I think it might be possible to extract Oxygen from a Quaise well, by injecting Hydrgen while drilling. Then water vapor would come out of the well. But only the easy Oxygen would come out But this would open space in the well. However, the Iron and other reduced materials, may corrode later so I am not sure it is a good idea. But a bit interesting.
Thes small objects you have posted about could be rubble or they may be boulders in some cases.
But the Quaise drill might process both. But you need a good container to retain Hydrogen. Of course, if you squirted Hydrogen gas onto the hot spoils from the "Drill" you should get water. Water is easier to retain.
There is more than one method to spilt water, I think, into Oxygen and Hydrogen. Electrolysis or some sort of a plasma process. Perhaps a Plasma Reactor method might work: https://www.science.org/content/article … xygen-mars
If we suppose that the typical asteroid materials are more like the Moon, but perhaps a little like Bennu or Ryugu, then we might hope to extract the "Easy" Oxygen, such as is bonded to Iron, and might expel it as propellant. Iron also might be expelled as propellant, after a magnetic separation. In such a case, the grains would not be likely to be pure iron but a composite of reduced Iron and other materials.
The drill method, perhaps will pulverize the rock to dust or make it into glass. Perhaps some of each.
What would be left would be partially reduced, so some Oxygen would remain. and a reduction in Oxygen mass would occur.
With a good process, we might accumulate more Hydrogen than what would be lost. This is because the parent bodies of these "Rocks" may have had some water, or hydrated minerals, and the solar wind may have injected protons into dusty materials.
But a reasonably good container would be needed.
While I have been interested in a mass driver that would expel Oxygen, I might also suggest, that if we had a ceramic capacitor plate that we "Wetted" with a small Oxygen flow then a high energy pulse from a Laser might cause it to be expelled with significant force.
What do you think?
Ending Pending 
Last edited by Void (2025-10-28 10:02:16)
Is it possible that the root of political science claims is to produce white collar jobs for people who paid for an education and do not want a real job?
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#28 2025-11-04 07:18:17
- tahanson43206
- Moderator
- Registered: 2018-04-27
- Posts: 23,985
Re: Asteroid/off-Earth mining
This topic of Louis seems the best fit for this announcement:
View Gregory Vialle’s graphic link
Gregory VialleGregory Vialle
• 1stPremium • 1st
Orbital Manufacturing and Recycling, Solar PV Semiconductor Production, Circular Economics.Orbital Manufacturing and Recycling, Solar PV Semiconductor Production, Circular Economics.
17h • 17 hours ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedInCurious what mining in LEO looks like? I'm giving a talk at the 2nd annual Space Resources Investment Summit at Colorado School of Mines, this Friday (7 NOV). It's not too late to register!
I know Gregory Vialle from the Living Universe Foundation restart attempt in 2011 and 2012. He is an active poster on LinkedIn.
The talk at the school in Colorado is this coming Friday, November 7th.
We have at least one member who lives out that way.
The link below was shown when I tried the LinkedIn link. It seems to have a problem with the security certificate. It worked on the second try.
https://www.spaceventureconsultants.com/sris-2025
Join us at the Colorado School of Mines—home to the world’s first graduate program dedicated to space resources—for the 2nd Annual Space Resource Investment Summit, hosted by Space Venture Consultants at the Mines Beck Venture Center.
This one-day event brings together educators, entrepreneurs, and investors shaping the future of the space economy. Attendees will hear from Space Resources faculty and leading space economists, watch startup pitches from emerging space ventures, and gain insights from top financiers and capital investors.
Presentations will explore the evolving space resources market, highlight innovative founders driving industry growth, and provide a forward-looking view of investment opportunities across the new space economy.
Colorado School of Mines
Beck Venture Center
Friday, November 7 | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a sponsored networking happy hour with drinks and snacks.
I asked Google about Lunexus Space and it found quite a few citations:
About Us
Lunexus Space
https://lunexus.space › about-us
Lunexus aims to bring life to the universe, focusing on space manufacturing, recycling orbital debris, and reducing Earth mining, with zero emissions.
Lunexus SpaceLinkedIn · Lunexus Space
310+ followers
Lunexus Space is a pre-seed venture focused on bootstrapping the orbital manufacturing ecosystem by recycling and remanufacturing photovoltaics in space.
LoginLunexus Space
https://lunexus.space › web › login
We are a growing team of passionate space nerds whose goal is to energize the exponential orbital economy through recycling and sustainable manufacturing. We ...
Lunexus Space Interview with Greg Vialle // MEMBERS SHOWYouTube · Project Tomorrow
8 months ago1:24:29
Enjoy this off-the-cuff members only show! Lunexus Space Interview with Greg Vialle // MEMBERS SHOW. Members only. Streamed 7 months ago
Lunexus SpaceLean SpaceTech
https://leanspacetech.com › Companies
Description: Lunexus Space is a company specializing in bootstrapping the orbital manufacturing ecosystem by recycling and remanufacturing photovoltaics in ...
Lunexus Space - Crunchbase Company Profile & FundingCrunchbase
https://www.crunchbase.com › organization › lunexus-s...
Converting orbital debris into orbital feedstocks, focus on photovoltaics. Every new satellite needs them, every old satellite has them.
Greg Vialle, Author at SpaceNewsSpaceNews
https://spacenews.com › author › greg-vialle
Oct 6, 2025 — Greg Vialle is the founder of Lunexus Space, a Colorado startup seeking to power the circular economy in space by turning debris into orbital ...
Contact UsLunexus Space
https://lunexus.space › contactus
Contact us · Lunexus Space · 44 Cook St, Denver CO · +1 (719) 851-3283 · info@lunexus.space. Useful Links. Home; About us; Products; Services ...
Lunexus Space, LLCF6S
https://www.f6s.com › Companies
Lunexus Space, LLC - Our mission is to close the technology gaps in processing materials in space. Because there is an exponentially growing $20B satellite ...
Utilize the ISS as a resource: a common sense, fiscally ...SpaceNews
https://spacenews.com › utilize-the-iss-as-a-resource-a-c...
Oct 6, 2025 — Let's get on with it! Greg Vialle is the founder of Lunexus Space, a Colorado startup seeking to power the circular economy in space by turning ...
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#29 2026-01-21 17:40:24
- Calliban
- Member
- From: Northern England, UK
- Registered: 2019-08-18
- Posts: 4,291
Re: Asteroid/off-Earth mining
The rotational energy of asteroids can be converted into linear kinetic energy by extending a tether into space, far beyond the geostationary point. The tip speed of the tether is proportional to its length. Within the limits of tensile strength, a tether can be used to accelerate a payload to arbitrary speed. If the tether extends far enough, it can be used to accelerate payloads to escape velocity, possibly resulting in velocity change of many km/s. This is effectively free energy, as it derives directly from the rotational energy of the asteroid.
The kinetic energy stored in a rotating body is given by:
Ke = 0.5 x I x w^2
Where I is moment of inertia and w is angular velocity in radians per second. Let us assume a roughly spherical asteroid. The moment of inertia of a uniform density sphere is given by:
I = 2/5 x MR^2
Where M is the mass of the asteroid and R is its radius. For a spherical body, mass is given by:
M = Rho x 4/3 x pi x R^3
Where rho is density. Substituting into the moment of inertia equation:
I = rho x 8/15 x pi x R^5
Substituting I into the KE equation gives:
KE = 4/15 x rho x pi x R^5 x w^2.
In this example, we find an asteroid with a diameter of 710m and a rotation rate of once every 1.88 minutes. That is an angular velocity of 0.0557 rad/s.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news … -2025-mn45
If we assume a stony iron composition and a density of 2600kg.m-3, we can use the rotational energy equation to estimate the amount of energy available to a tether system.
KE = 4/15 x rho x pi x R^5 x w^2
KE = 4/15 x 2600 x pi x 355^5 x 0.0557^2 = 3.81E13J (10.58GWh).
Suppose we were to use half of that energy to change the velocity of a mass by 2km/s. How much mass could we accelerate?
M = 1.91E13 / (0.5 x 2000^2) = 9,526,103kg (~9500 metric tonnes).
This is only 0.002% of the total mass of the asteroid. But it could potentially be valuable in the early years of asteroid mining, before advanced nuclear propulsion systems are available. It could also be sufficient to make fast rotating asteroids into dangerous weapons.
"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."
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#30 2026-01-21 19:10:04
- SpaceNut
- Administrator
- From: New Hampshire
- Registered: 2004-07-22
- Posts: 30,288
Re: Asteroid/off-Earth mining
Asteroid electricity produced by a tether system primarily involves using long, conductive cables to generate power via electrodynamic interactions, similar to electrodynamic tethers (EDTs) used for orbital propulsion. While most research focuses on using tethers to maneuver asteroids for planetary defense or material collection, these systems can generate electrical energy as they move through interplanetary magnetic fields.
Key Concepts in Tether-Based Asteroid Energy Generation Electrodynamic Power Generation: Similar to NASA's TEPCE experiment, a long, conducting wire (tether) moving through a magnetic field (e.g., in the solar wind) can generate a voltage, producing electricity that can power onboard instruments for missions.
E-Sail Technology: Electric solar wind sails use hundreds of kilometers of thin tether spun from a spacecraft, which can be powered by solar panels and, in reverse, potentially generate power from the solar wind's motion, with \(2,000\text{\ km}\) of tether potentially producing \(\sim 1\text{N}\) of force.
Asteroid Manipulation: Tethers are primarily proposed to attach a spacecraft to an asteroid to change its trajectory or to harness its kinetic energy, which, if integrated with an electrodynamic system, could provide power during long-term missions.
Energy Transfer: A "Momentum Exchange Electrodynamic Reboost" (MXER) tether system can use, and potentially generate, electricity to maintain its own kinetic energy while moving massive objects like asteroids or payloads, according to Centauri Dreams. Potential
Applications Long-term Exploration: Providing continuous, high-power energy for mining or scientific equipment on asteroids without relying on solar panels.
Propulsion and Navigation: Using the generated power to fuel electric propulsion systems to change the orbit of hazardous near-Earth objects.
Space Infrastructure: Tethered systems can serve as fuel-free, self-sustaining, or high-efficiency, long-term power sources for maneuvering, as discussed in this YouTube video. While electrodynamic tether electricity generation is proven in Earth orbit, its application to asteroid missions is largely in the theoretical or simulation stage for future space exploration
1. Mechanisms for Electricity Production
There are two primary theoretical ways a tether system can produce electricity from an asteroid:Electrodynamic Induction: If an asteroid has a magnetic field or is moving through a plasma-rich environment (like a planetary magnetosphere), a conducting tether moving through these magnetic field lines induces an electromotive force (EMF). This converts the asteroid's orbital kinetic energy directly into electrical current.
Regenerative Braking (Momentum Exchange): Concepts like the Comet Hitchhiker use a tether to "harpoon" an asteroid during a flyby. As the spacecraft is pulled along, it applies a regenerative brake to the tether spool, slowing itself down while simultaneously recharging its onboard batteries by converting mechanical tension into electricity.
2. Theoretical Applications
Research and simulations as of 2026 suggest several use cases:Asteroid De-Spinning: Large, rapidly rotating asteroids can be slowed down by deploying a tethered ballast mass. A portion of the rotational kinetic energy dissipated during this process can be harvested as electrical energy.
Propellantless Power for Mining: Future mining colonies could use tether systems to tap into an asteroid’s rotational energy to power drills or processing equipment without needing massive solar arrays or nuclear reactors.
Orbital Maneuvering: Tethered systems can exchange energy between two asteroids (a "dumbbell system") to change their trajectories for planetary defense or to move them into more accessible orbits for resource extraction.
3. Key Challenges and Limitations
Despite the potential, several hurdles remain:Material Strength: Current tether materials must withstand extreme tension, especially when dealing with the massive kinetic energy of a moving asteroid.
Anchoring: Securing a tether to the granular, "rubble pile" surface of many asteroids is difficult, as bolts may pull out of the loose material.
Tether Stability: Tethered systems can become chaotic or oscillate violently, requiring advanced "passive damping" or active control to maintain stable power generation.Magnetic Field Strength: Most asteroids have very weak magnetic fields compared to Earth, making simple electrodynamic induction less efficient unless they are passing near a large planet like Jupiter
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