Found this article unbelievable but very exciting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17827347

Was just reading this a few minutes ago, all I can say is about time!

These things start off expensive but then soon come down in price once competition starts and technologies start to become more widespread.  It does sound like they're going to be a while before they actually get anywhere but its a start.

I do worry slightly that instead of putting a asteroid into a lunar orbit they decide to put it into Low Earth Orbit and it accidentaly entering the atmosphere and ends up getting dropped on somewhere, you'd have to hope they're a little bit more sensible than that but still...

more chance of seeing elite iv in the next 10 years

Quote from: Eggtastico on April 24, 2012, 15:23:50 PM
more chance of seeing elite iv in the next 10 years

lol more than likely!

Quote from: Eggtastico on April 24, 2012, 15:23:50 PM
more chance of seeing elite iv in the next 10 years

gotta practice on something

Quote from: Russell on April 24, 2012, 15:49:00 PM

Quote from: Eggtastico on April 24, 2012, 15:23:50 PM
more chance of seeing elite iv in the next 10 years

lol more than likely!

True, but these things rarely hit their target within the initial guesstimate. To be honest I would think that the moon would be a better target for mining.

I think unbelievable is the right word... not sure how commercially viable it is but nice that someone is seemingly going to attempt it.

Actually, I think the moon would be a terrible target for mining, not only is there probably not much in the way of useful resources to mine there, but the moon dirt itself is miniscule and razor sharp - so sharp and abrasive it would slice through your lungs if breathed in and will quickly destroy machinery - as well as being electrically charged so it sticks to anything coming near to it, so it's not exactly easy to go digging through it.

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/19296/

The moon is actually the obvious place to start off earth mining. I very much doubt if you are likely to go outside with just shirt and pants on and survive - dust or no dust. A space suit would be required equipment for every miner.

Most mining there would be automated as far as possible and the moon has a similar make up to the earth.

I think you are underestimating the problem. Obviously they would need a spacesuit, my point is that the spacesuits themselves taken onto the Moon we're heavily eroded by this tiny abrasive dust clinging to them and when released it affects the astronauts, there's lots of reports on it:

http://business.highbeam.com/137753/article-1G1-133110221/ground-above-us-next-time-astronauts-go-moon-theyll


You couldn't just setup an automated machine without finding someway to counteract the dust, it would be ruined in a matter of months.

The rock dust is as much a resource as a challenge, many industries on Earth have similar problems with it. Explosive volcanoes produce huge quantities of the stuff and it's equally bad for you and machines.

Stick it together and you can use it much like concrete to build with. Heat it enough and it will melt and become rock. There are options, all that has to be done is find them. There are also challenges, life would be rather less exciting without them.

Lunar dust is magnetic, so you can easily pick it up in huge quantities and use microwaves to melt it into safe areas. You might also be able to use electrical fields to repel the stuff.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080924191552.htm

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2006/19apr_dustbuster/

The Moon missions in the 70s were a first attempt, they didn't know the conditions they would face, or all of its potential dangers. The suits were a 'best guess' at a suitable option. We now know more and can do better - this is 40 years later and there have been a lot of technological advances in that time. Human controlled robots could do the actual work rather than people.