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Space is starting to look like the better mining operation (arstechnica.com)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 22 points 2 years ago (1 child)

Rocks ≠ ore. There are numerous materials (e.g. lithium) for the total known deposits on Earth won't cover more than a few decades' worth of projected demand, and even then, the mining process is an environmental disaster. Asteroid mining is a long-term project that will require huge advances in multiple fields, but it addresses a real need.

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  • [–] -3 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    known deposits. There's functionally endless amounts of all elements we need on earth. And there is zero need to go mine asteroids at a truely astronomical cost of efficiency.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    I said mostly the same thing as you in (my own words) elsewhere inside this post. Most people don't want to see this reality.

    So, maybe this is a business opportunity : to attract investment and then face investors with hard facts. Of course we write the contract so that, after this, we just keep their stupid money.

    Edit : Oops ! I just read your other comment :

    you’ll also see (...) investment scams

    And so I realize you were thinking along these lines already. (although my statement was much more cynical)

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