Stewart Alsop’s Post

Stewart Alsop Excellent post. As a miner and processor, I know that it is the processing that is often the overlooked opportunity for efficiency in making a deposit profitable or not. Being able to concentrate your mineral or metal of interest before transporting it to your final extraction process makes transportation more efficient on an order of magnitude. On Earth, the availability or lack of water can have a major impact on how efficiently a gravity-based concentration process can become. Water is a denser medium that air and it is better at concentrating metals by weight. Sure there are more regulatory considerations when using water, but the increase in efficiency makes it worth using. In the vacuum of space however, all bets are off. The lack of gravity and the vacuum of space create a new set of ground rules that have to be taken into consideration. It will take a new mindset and new technological solutions to concentrate, extract and purify metal and minerals in space. This will be especially important while the cost of transportation per Kg is so high, and it will drive the need for completing as much of the processing on site as possible. I look forward to seeing what process solutions AstroForge will develop.

Don't Give Up: AstroForge's Perseverance in Space Mining   As Earth's resources dwindle and demand for precious metals rises, space mining emerges as a potential solution for a sustainable future. This innovative field promises to open a new frontier of possibilities.   Several companies are venturing into this exciting industry, aiming to extract valuable resources from asteroids. AstroForge took a significant step by launching its Brokkr-1 satellite on April 15, 2023, to test an asteroid refining process in space. However, the mission faced significant challenges and couldn't achieve its primary objectives, highlighting the complexities of space mining operations.   AstroForge's experience underscores a crucial lesson for startups in cutting-edge industries: setbacks are inherent to innovation. Each challenge provides valuable insights for future missions and technological developments. While success isn't guaranteed, these early attempts contribute to the collective knowledge needed to advance the field.   AstroForge found that third-party vendors were the root cause of their problems. Facing a critical juncture, the company made a difficult but crucial decision. On April 2, 2024, the AstroForge team unanimously decided to pivot and focus on in-house design of their own vehicle for Mission 3.   They say 'Space is Hard', but what's truly challenging is finding the strength to pivot and not give up. Pioneering new frontiers is never easy, with the path often marked by trial and error.   Despite the hurdles, space mining's potential continues to captivate researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors. As space technologies like autonomous navigation advance, it's inevitable that we'll see a future where extraterrestrial resource extraction becomes a reality. The key is perseverance and adaptability in the face of challenges.   Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU – Asteroid 16 Psyche   #SpaceMining #AsteroidMining #FutureOfMining #Space3 #SpaceTech

Recent work had me take a deeper dive into the booming space industry. The gist: 🔴 Rocket Lab and others are slashing launch costs, opening new frontiers 🔴 Startups like Astranis could bring the internet to billions 🔴 Space manufacturing could revolutionize pharmaceuticals and semiconductors 🔴 Space-based solar power might be closer than we think 🔴 Asteroid mining? It's on the horizon The kicker: These aren't century-long moonshots. We're talking real benefits in the next 5-10 years, impacting millions (soon to be billions) of lives. 💡 Key Takeaway: The space industry isn't just about Mars colonies. It's solving real problems on Earth, right now. Check out the full article below. #SpaceTech #Innovation #FutureOfSpace #TechTrends https://lnkd.in/e7TV-UHi

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱𝘀? The next frontier of mining is in space. ↳ And we’re already preparing for it… → 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲? ↳ Every new smartphone, electric car, and high-edge gadget depends on rare metals like platinum, nickel, and cobalt. But Earth’s supply isn’t infinite. And with production of these tech wonders only ramping up, we’re facing a serious resource squeeze. ↳ Without tapping into the wealth of resources floating above us, it might not be possible to sustain the pace of technological advancement we’ve come to expect. ↳ Mining on Earth also causes damage to our planet, but in space, we leave Earth untouched. Plus, the water on asteroids could turn into fuel for space travel. → 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲? Not all asteroids are the same: ↳ C-type (Carbonaceous): Full of water - perfect for making fuel and oxygen. These make up 75% of all asteroids. ↳ S-type (Silicaceous): Contains metals like nickel and iron - great for building satellites, space stations, and possibly even future space homes! ↳ M-type (Metallic): Like a treasure in space - loaded with platinum, nickel, and valuable metals. → 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻? NASA and Japan have already tested it! NASA’s OSIRIS-REx brought back samples from the asteroid Bennu, and Japan’s Hayabusa missions did the same with Ryugu. Now, it’s time to scale up. → How does asteroid mining work? 🔹 Autonomous robots are sent to the asteroid to extract metals. 🔹 Instead of bringing raw materials back to Earth, they're processed in space, making it faster, cheaper, and way more efficient. 🔹 The processed metals are then packaged up and sent back to Earth, without worrying about Earth's traffic jams! Asteroid mining can support humanity in many different ways. Water from asteroids could support colonies on Mars or the Moon, and be used as fuel for space missions. Companies like AstroForge are already taking steps toward this vision, where mining in space becomes as routine as drilling for oil on Earth. In the not-too-distant future, we could be building entire space ecosystems powered by the resources floating just above us. Take a peak behind the curtain of cutting-edge space research at XPANSE. November 20-22, you can be one of just 2,500 people to rub elbows with Nobel laureates, CEOs, and top scientists who are at the forefront of exponential technology and science. We share the most exclusive knowledge and breakthroughs in technology and science, including fusion, advanced materials, next-gen 2D matter, genomics, quantum, exotic computing, embodied intelligence, sentient cities and beyond. 🗓 When: November 20-22 📍 Where: ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi Hosted by ADQ, The Abu Dhabi-based holding and investment company. Register Now! https://lnkd.in/dtP88RQ6

☄️ Metal asteroid Psyche has a ridiculously high 'value.' But what does that even mean? You might have heard that the asteroid 16 Psyche, the target of NASA's upcoming Psyche mission, is worth $100,000 quadrillion. But how can you really pinpoint an asteroid's monetary value? Psyche orbits the sun in the main asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter. Scientists think the asteroid could be an exposed metallic core of an ancient protoplanet. If the metals on Psyche were on Earth, they would be worth more than the entire world economy, according to an estimate by the Psyche mission's lead scientist, Lindy Elkins-Tanton. But, of course, these metals are not on Earth — not even close. Still, the spectacularly high value does point to how exciting and impactful the Psyche mission could be — not only for planetary science but also for the budding asteroid mining industry. Psyche is an M-type asteroid, meaning it is metallic, though it's not entirely clear what type of metal it is made of. Spectroscopy, one of the ways scientists determine the composition of celestial objects, splits up light coming off of an object into a spectrum, giving each object a "spectral fingerprint." Methods like radar show that Psyche's surface is highly reflective but don't reveal what the reflective material is, he said. Many scientists think Psyche's surface is made mostly of nickel and iron, since those elements tend to be common in asteroids, he added. "We can't definitely say, this is the composition," Caldwell said. But these models can help scientists identify the materials that may or may not be feasible, she added, and we'll know better once we get there. Unfortunately, it's a long wait; the Psyche spacecraft isn't scheduled to arrive at its target until 2029. Regardless of what Psyche is made of, it likely contains so much metal that estimating its amount and multiplying it by the current market value yields an unbelievable number, like the $100,000 quadrillion figure, which Elkins-Tanton estimated you could get from mining iron alone. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/de9JP6Ng

Ideas for making money in orbit that seemed mad in the 1960s now look sane. The Economist: Dreams of asteroid mining, orbital manufacturing & much more. Calling A company SpinLaunch in an industry where the first part of that name is a way of life might seem a hostage to fortune. But, though the firm is no slouch at PR, “spin” refers to how its cargoes are dispatched from Earth’s surface—by an armature rotating inside a vacuum chamber (pictured above) rather than on a rocket. After an hour’s slow acceleration on the ground, the projectile is fired out of the chamber at 2.2km a second. Only when it is around 62km up will a small motor ignite to carry it the rest of the way into orbit. SpinLaunch, in Long Beach, is part of a cluster of “New Space” firms in and around Los Angeles. They are heirs to a century-old aerospace tradition, rebooted in 2002 when a then-little-known entrepreneur called Elon Musk rented a warehouse in El Segundo for a startup called SpaceX. The 200kg payloads that SpinLaunch will handle are minuscule compared with those launched by SpaceX, whose Falcon 9 rockets can loft nearly 23 tonnes. But small can be beautiful. The Electron launch vehicles made by Rocket Lab, one of SpinLaunch’s neighbours, have only slightly larger loads—320kg. Rocket Lab is the only New Space firm so far, bar SpaceX, to make money by launching things into orbit. https://lnkd.in/gXtNWpPz

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing space exploration, with the Perseverance Mars rover leading the way. For nearly three years, Perseverance has been testing AI to identify minerals in Martian rocks, marking the first time AI has autonomously analyzed rock composition on Mars. This innovation supports the PIXL instrument, which maps the chemical makeup of minerals, helping scientists determine if the rocks could have supported microbial life in Mars' past. By autonomously positioning itself and analyzing data in real-time, the AI-powered PIXL streamlines the research process, allowing for more efficient and thorough exploration. This advancement is a crucial step toward more autonomous spacecraft capable of deeper solar system exploration. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eppq6357

I am not as big an astronomy geek as I am a payment geek, but I did follow the eclipse progress via the NASA website. It got me thinking -- is the solar eclipse a metaphor for bank <> fintech partnerships? And if so, what does it mean? Optimistic version: Relatively small fintechs (the moon) have outsize impact, eclipsing that of incumbents (the sun). Pessimistic version: The fintech phenomenon is a momentary optical illusion and the relative magnitude of incumbents (the sun) will be obvious again soon. Or is there something else going on? A celestial-type system held in place through the gravitational pull of client demand? The moon (fintechs) orbit the earth (consumer and business clients) and both are orbiting the incumbent banks (the sun). If that's the case, it's all happening within the context of the universe and subject to astrophysics which is well beyond my expertise and further than I want to go with this metaphorical exercise. What do you think? (Image courtesy of NASA)

From Moon Dust to Million Dollar Venture: Interlune's Lunar Gold Rush 🌑 Interlune, the brainchild of former BLUE ORIGIN talents Rob Meyerson and Gary Lai, is leading the charge in the 21st Century Lunar 'Gold' Rush. With an impressive $15 million backing, the company is tapping into the lucrative potential of extracting Helium-3 from the lunar surface and selling it on Earth. Helium-3 is rare and expensive on Earth. Yet it holds immense opportunities for industries like superconducting quantum computing, medical imaging, and fusion energy. Interlune is gearing up for a demonstrator mission in 2026, showcasing their groundbreaking space mining technology. By 2030, they aim to commence Helium-3 shipments to Earth, potentially facilitated by SpaceX or BLUE ORIGIN. This venture aligns perfectly with NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Artemis Program. A testament to humanity's enduring quest for discovery and innovation beyond. At Via Space Holdings, we're captivated by this burgeoning Lunar 'Gold' Rush. Join us in celebrating and supporting these pioneers who are shaping the future of our space economy. #InvestmentReimagined #Future #Investing #SpaceTech #Startups www.viaspaceholdings.com Source: https://lnkd.in/gUiQscAP

For a space exploration, cosmology, astrophysics and tech enthusiast like myself, SpaceX's recent Starship Super Heavy Booster flight 5 was probably the highlight of the year. The fact they were able to catch the booster on their first catch attempt is just straight up crazy. The amount of hard work and the complex engineering is evident. I mean it's not everyday that you catch a 28 story building with a pair of chop sticks. Not only that the Starship itself was able to land in the spot it was planned to, even if it was the sea. Personally, I think this test has laid the ground work for the planned colonization of the moon and subsequently Mars. Of course there are many things that are still being figured out but lets be honest, one of the biggest challenges is out of the way. SpaceX wants to go to the moon by 2025 and the window for Mars will open up in 2027. If what SpaceX is promising does come to pass, we might see hundreds of launches of Starship in the coming years. This will truly be a paradigm shift in space exploration and colonization of our own solar system. That said, there are still many challenges that still need to be solved. Life support systems, agricultural systems, building equipment's and materials are all a crucial part of a base on Moon and Mars. Already many startups are working to solve these issues and provide sustainable ways of setting up these basic needs in space. One such issue is making fuel to come back from Mars. Scientist have suggested using Martian soil as fuel source for the journey back but there are still many questions. Other questions relate to sustainable food sources and habitat building. Initial plans include sending robots to set up the preliminary living conditions and then send humans. Companies like Boston Dynamics, AI Spacefactory and many more are actively working to make these things possible by 2027. Of course this also opens up many ethical questions relating to monopolization of space travel and control of extraterrestrial resources. I mean if SpaceX gets there first what is stopping them from making it all theirs. Then there is the whole question about asteroid mining. Which every country or company does that first will be the strongest and mightiest power every seen in the history of the world. I keep my hopes up. This test was definitely a defining moment for humanity. This can very well be put next to the engineering feat of putting man on the moon. Kudos to all the engineers involved and to Elon Musk. Even if you disagree with him on certain things (Which I do) and don't like him as a person (I don't like the guy), it is also true that this is because of his leadership. I just hope that this will only bring about positive effects rather then anything negative. #spacex #startship #space #spaceexploration #engineering #ai #spaceships #nasa #bostondynamics #elonmusk