Knowra Asteroid mining Asteroid mining Asteroid mining is the proposed extraction and use of water, metals, and other materials from asteroids, primarily to support space activity or supply terrestrial markets.
Asteroid prospecting : The remote and in-situ assessment of asteroids to determine their composition and resource potential. Spectral observations and spacecraft measurements help select targets before costly extraction missions.
Water in space : Water occurring beyond Earth, including as ice, hydrated minerals, or vapor. Asteroid water could provide drinking water, radiation shielding, and feedstock for propellant.
John S. Lewis : An American planetary scientist known for research and writing on the resources of the solar system. His 1990 book helped popularize the technical and economic case for mining near-Earth asteroids.
Lunar resource utilization : The use of materials found on the Moon to support exploration or settlement there. The Moon is a nearer alternative source of water ice and construction materials for cislunar missions.
Near-Earth asteroid : An asteroid whose orbit brings it relatively close to Earth's orbit. Near-Earth objects are more accessible than distant asteroids, but accessible does not necessarily mean resource-rich.
In-situ resource utilization : The use of materials found in space to support exploration and operations there. Asteroid mining is one possible source of locally obtained propellant, water, and construction materials.
Hydrogen propellant : Hydrogen used as a chemical rocket fuel, usually burned with oxygen. Water-derived hydrogen could support refueling systems in space, though storage and transport are difficult.
Mining the Sky : John S. Lewis's 1996 book arguing that extraterrestrial resources could support human activity and industry. The book became a prominent popular account of asteroid resources and their possible uses.
Terrestrial mining : The extraction of minerals and other resources from Earth's crust and surface. Earth-based mines and launch supply chains challenge claims that asteroid materials can compete economically.
Asteroid taxonomy : The classification of asteroids by characteristics such as composition, spectra, and orbit. Classification helps estimate resources, yet remote measurements cannot fully establish mineable quantities.
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