Could NASA's Psyche Asteroid Mission Unlock Trillions in Wealth?
Asteroid mining, often touted as a trillion-dollar industry, may not be as lucrative as media suggests. A study funded by Astroforge highlights that only platinum-group metals (PGMs) are worth returning to Earth due to their high value and utility. Other metals, like iron and aluminum, are more suited for in-space construction. The study also challenges the notion of 'pure metal' asteroids, suggesting that while PGMs are present in higher concentrations than on Earth, their extraction is complex. Astroforge plans a mission to assess near-Earth asteroids' metallic content, potentially advancing our understanding of asteroid mining's viability.
