Did the doomsday asteroid "Apophis" come to anyone's mind here? Apophis thinks it's spooky and all that, but once it gets here we're gonna pounce and strip it down like a pack of hyenas on a baby zebra!
Unless I'm mistaken, Apohis has a density no more than 3g/cc so is not likely to be metal rich, or in other words there won't be much in the way of platinum group metals to be collected from it. Which means it won't be profitable to mine...unless some breakthrough in cheap propulsion is fielded.
@marmaladekamikaze VASIMR looks to be good for that. Slow but much faster and cheaper than the traditionaly "throw a huge rocket on it then let it coast" method.
Plus there are asteroids in earth and moon system not just out in the belts.
@mikecombs61 Yes for most things he is right. Part of the reason we need such large launch vehicles is that it takes alot of speed to get to GEO GSO not to mention the moon. Something in orbit would save alot of mass.
Did the doomsday asteroid "Apophis" come to anyone's mind here? Apophis thinks it's spooky and all that, but once it gets here we're gonna pounce and strip it down like a pack of hyenas on a baby zebra!
jag9998 1 year ago 2
Hmm. A bit graphic. But I think I still applaud the attitude!
mikecombs61 1 year ago 2
@jag9998
Unless I'm mistaken, Apohis has a density no more than 3g/cc so is not likely to be metal rich, or in other words there won't be much in the way of platinum group metals to be collected from it. Which means it won't be profitable to mine...unless some breakthrough in cheap propulsion is fielded.
marmaladekamikaze 1 month ago
@marmaladekamikaze VASIMR looks to be good for that. Slow but much faster and cheaper than the traditionaly "throw a huge rocket on it then let it coast" method.
Plus there are asteroids in earth and moon system not just out in the belts.
valcan321 1 month ago
@valcan321
too true, also perhaps with the utilization of Belbruno low energy transfer orbits.The costs would be even less.
marmaladekamikaze 1 month ago
Nice video, the music was creepy though...
1umbnonearth 1 year ago
One day I think we will be doing this.
mickeymoo26 1 year ago
Good video. Considering how fast we are using up rare earth minerals, this could be in the near future.
Ramshobraja 1 year ago
A space commentator who I trust (Rand Simberg) says that heavy lift might not be as essential a requirement as the ability to refuel on-orbit.
mikecombs61 2 years ago
@mikecombs61 Yes for most things he is right. Part of the reason we need such large launch vehicles is that it takes alot of speed to get to GEO GSO not to mention the moon. Something in orbit would save alot of mass.
valcan321 1 year ago
@valcan321
I think NASA have decided on the more efficient 'in orbit fuel depot' concept. Over the need for a large launch vehicle.
marmaladekamikaze 1 month ago
@marmaladekamikaze Who knows with the idiot SLS thing being shoved down our throat for some congressional jobs.
valcan321 1 month ago
5-stars...to prospect on apollo asteroids what manned rocket must we build today? orion capsule on ares-5 or orion on delta-4-heavy?/milwaukee
rocketshipstud2 2 years ago
Hey Mike!
Just thought I'd check and see what you were uploading these days. This is a good'un.
SailorBarsoom 3 years ago