Project to mine asteroids for water (and precious metals) has begun. - Page 6

Roboramma · 9th May 2012, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by quarky

Actually, the jet-packs are sort-of happening.

Its the world peace and end to starvation stuff that's really dragging its feet.

Speaking of which, what do you think of Jeffery Sachs' The End of Poverty?
(that link goes to a JREF review of the book

)

I think he makes a pretty convincing argument that we can put an end to deep poverty with the resources that we have now, and that doing so is in everyone's interest.

I know this is slightly off-topic. But my view is that scientific and technological advancement can make this sort of thing possible, but political will is necessary to actually make it happen. Not sure if it will.

ETA: Speaking of whom, check out this article: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/09/op...lth/index.html

Quote:

Globally, deaths of young children are falling. In 1990, the worldwide deaths of children under 5 totaled around 12.5 million. By 2010, the deaths were down to around 7.6 million.

quarky · 9th May 2012, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Roboramma

Speaking of which, what do you think of Jeffery Sachs' The End of Poverty?
(that link goes to a JREF review of the book

)

I think he makes a pretty convincing argument that we can put an end to deep poverty with the resources that we have now, and that doing so is in everyone's interest.

I know this is slightly off-topic. But my view is that scientific and technological advancement can make this sort of thing possible, but political will is necessary to actually make it happen. Not sure if it will.

ETA: Speaking of whom, check out this article: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/09/op...lth/index.html

I loved "The end of poverty?". There's a documentary out (Netflix, streaming) of the book. Good stuff, imho.

Roboramma · 9th May 2012, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by quarky

I loved "The end of poverty?". There's a documentary out (Netflix, streaming) of the book. Good stuff, imho.

Cool! I'll have to check that out.

I also just found out (while looking him up this morning) that he's got a new book out. Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy.

Wolrab · 10th May 2012, 11:53 PM

I'm gonna space mine me some magnetic monoploes.

bit_pattern · 12th May 2012, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by quarky

Thanks for that homework, Madalch. The nerd in me started to calculate the radius of the 239 tonne blob of platinum. Not that big, actually, to put it in layman's terms.
Interesting, the "239 tonnes SOLD". I wonder how that correlates to the amount mined? I would suspect that a lot of it is stashed before its even on the market, though I've nothing by way of evidence.

According to this link less than 200 tonnes were mined in 2006 - suggesting that there must be considerable stockpiles in place

http://www.metalseconomics.com/pdf/S...inumSupply.pdf

Hellbound · 14th May 2012, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by bit_pattern

According to this link less than 200 tonnes were mined in 2006 - suggesting that there must be considerable stockpiles in place

http://www.metalseconomics.com/pdf/S...inumSupply.pdf

Well, there are also a lot of companies that recycle platinum-containing items and recover the metal, so there may not be. I don't know how much of the market that type fo thing would account for, though.

OnlyTellsTruths · 23rd January 2013, 02:06 AM

Interesting new article with some updates about this project:

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/...tory?track=rss

Quote:

Deep Space hopes to launch small, low-cost spacecraft called fireflies by 2015. Weighing about 55 pounds, fireflies would use existing technology and hitch rides with larger communications satellites being launched into space. These one-way trips would last from two to six months, depending on the distance to the target asteroid<snip>

In 2016, the venture plans to launch larger spacecraft called dragonflies, which would weigh 60 to 150 pounds and embark on two-to-four-year missions that would pick up asteroid samples and return them to Earth for analysis.<snip>

The company is working on the technology for that last goal, developing 3-D printer technology that uses a laser to draw patterns with nickel, allowing them to build in microgravity.

spin0 · 23rd January 2013, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by OnlyTellsTruths

Interesting new article with some updates about this project:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/...tory?track=rss

It's a new company and another project which hopes to gather venture capital to explore and eventually mine asteroids. Deep Space Industries Inc.

Here's their recent briefing: http://www.newspacewatch.com/article...-briefing.html

And promotional video: http://youtu.be/pIY_fmvFDhM

9th May 2012, 06:09 PM	#201
Roboramma Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shanghai Posts: 7,099	Originally Posted by quarky Actually, the jet-packs are sort-of happening. Its the world peace and end to starvation stuff that's really dragging its feet. Speaking of which, what do you think of Jeffery Sachs' The End of Poverty? (that link goes to a JREF review of the book ) I think he makes a pretty convincing argument that we can put an end to deep poverty with the resources that we have now, and that doing so is in everyone's interest. I know this is slightly off-topic. But my view is that scientific and technological advancement can make this sort of thing possible, but political will is necessary to actually make it happen. Not sure if it will. ETA: Speaking of whom, check out this article: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/09/op...lth/index.html Quote: Globally, deaths of young children are falling. In 1990, the worldwide deaths of children under 5 totaled around 12.5 million. By 2010, the deaths were down to around 7.6 million.
	__________________ "... when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together." Isaac Asimov Last edited by Roboramma; 9th May 2012 at 06:15 PM.

9th May 2012, 09:48 PM	#202
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454	Originally Posted by Roboramma Speaking of which, what do you think of Jeffery Sachs' The End of Poverty? (that link goes to a JREF review of the book ) I think he makes a pretty convincing argument that we can put an end to deep poverty with the resources that we have now, and that doing so is in everyone's interest. I know this is slightly off-topic. But my view is that scientific and technological advancement can make this sort of thing possible, but political will is necessary to actually make it happen. Not sure if it will. ETA: Speaking of whom, check out this article: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/09/op...lth/index.html I loved "The end of poverty?". There's a documentary out (Netflix, streaming) of the book. Good stuff, imho.
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454

9th May 2012, 10:15 PM	#203
Roboramma Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shanghai Posts: 7,099	Originally Posted by quarky I loved "The end of poverty?". There's a documentary out (Netflix, streaming) of the book. Good stuff, imho. Cool! I'll have to check that out. I also just found out (while looking him up this morning) that he's got a new book out. Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy.
	__________________ "... when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together." Isaac Asimov

10th May 2012, 11:53 PM	#204
Wolrab Graduate Poster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Beautiful Finger Lakes Posts: 1,711	I'm gonna space mine me some magnetic monoploes.
	__________________ "Such reports are usually based on the sighting of something the sighters cannot explain and that they (or someone else on their behalf) explain as representing an interstellar spaceship-often by saying "But what else can it be?" as though thier own ignorance is a decisive factor." Isaac Asimov

12th May 2012, 06:55 PM	#205
bit_pattern Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,349	Originally Posted by quarky Thanks for that homework, Madalch. The nerd in me started to calculate the radius of the 239 tonne blob of platinum. Not that big, actually, to put it in layman's terms. Interesting, the "239 tonnes SOLD". I wonder how that correlates to the amount mined? I would suspect that a lot of it is stashed before its even on the market, though I've nothing by way of evidence. According to this link less than 200 tonnes were mined in 2006 - suggesting that there must be considerable stockpiles in place http://www.metalseconomics.com/pdf/S...inumSupply.pdf
bit_pattern Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,349	__________________ "You are the epitome of the 'pigeon playing chess'. No matter how good I am at chess, you are just going to knock the pieces over, **** on the board and strut around like you've won something" "In this political climate, all of science is vulnerable to ideological attack when reality disagrees with political beliefs."

14th May 2012, 06:00 AM	#206
Hellbound Abiogenic Spongiform Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a handbasket Posts: 8,942	Originally Posted by bit_pattern According to this link less than 200 tonnes were mined in 2006 - suggesting that there must be considerable stockpiles in place http://www.metalseconomics.com/pdf/S...inumSupply.pdf Well, there are also a lot of companies that recycle platinum-containing items and recover the metal, so there may not be. I don't know how much of the market that type fo thing would account for, though.

23rd January 2013, 02:06 AM	#207
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,811	Interesting new article with some updates about this project: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/...tory?track=rss Quote: Deep Space hopes to launch small, low-cost spacecraft called fireflies by 2015. Weighing about 55 pounds, fireflies would use existing technology and hitch rides with larger communications satellites being launched into space. These one-way trips would last from two to six months, depending on the distance to the target asteroid<snip> In 2016, the venture plans to launch larger spacecraft called dragonflies, which would weigh 60 to 150 pounds and embark on two-to-four-year missions that would pick up asteroid samples and return them to Earth for analysis.<snip> The company is working on the technology for that last goal, developing 3-D printer technology that uses a laser to draw patterns with nickel, allowing them to build in microgravity.
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,811	__________________ ________________________

23rd January 2013, 06:51 AM	#208
spin0 Muse Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 606	Originally Posted by OnlyTellsTruths Interesting new article with some updates about this project: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/...tory?track=rss It's a new company and another project which hopes to gather venture capital to explore and eventually mine asteroids. Deep Space Industries Inc. Here's their recent briefing: http://www.newspacewatch.com/article...-briefing.html And promotional video: http://youtu.be/pIY_fmvFDhM