All articles tagged with #metal extraction
The article discusses the potential of mini-moons, like asteroid 2024 PT5, as accessible targets for asteroid mining due to their proximity to Earth, and explores the technological and economic challenges involved in capturing and extracting valuable metals from these space rocks, with future missions and innovations on the horizon.
Scientists have developed a new method to extract metals from asteroids using deep eutectic solvents. In a study, researchers conducted catalytic dissolution experiments on meteorite proxies of metal-rich asteroids, successfully solubilizing metals using non-aqueous deep eutectic solvents. This method has the potential to provide a local source of materials for establishing human settlements in space and reducing the mass, cost, and environmental constraints of space missions. The study also identified valuable metals such as platinum group metals, iron, nickel, and cobalt in near-Earth asteroids, highlighting the potential for asteroid mining as a viable economic activity in the future.
Airbus has developed the Regolith to OXYgen and Metals Conversion (ROXY) system, which extracts oxygen and metals from lunar regolith. The process is environmentally friendly and can be used to manufacture tools, equipment, and structures on the Moon. ROXY is a collaboration between Airbus, various universities, and other companies. The technology has potential implications for future lunar exploration missions and could be used to support billions of people on the Moon.