Space Resources for an Unlimited Future | Deep Space Industries Planetary Resources shows off full-scale asteroid mining prototype Chris Lewicki and the Arkyd-100 prototype Image Gallery (7 images) Last year, we took an in-depth look at Planetary Resources’ asteroid mining plans. Now the Bellevue, Washington-based company has revealed a full-scale prototype of its Arkyd-100 Low Earth Orbit spacecraft that will search for promising mining candidates. In a video update, Planetary Resources President and “Chief Asteroid Miner,” Chris Lewicki gave a tour of the 11 kilogram (24.2 lb) spacecraft’s features and outlined the company’s immediate goals. View all The Arkyd-100 is the first in a series of different spacecraft that Planetary Resources is developing for asteroid mining. The propulsion-less Arkyd-100 is small, with a fold-up telescope tube, deployable solar arrays, an integrated avionics bay, and instrument and sensor package at the back of large optical assembly that takes up most of the craft’s volume. Planetary Resources sees the first launch of several Arkyd-100s in 2014 or 2015. Source: Planetary Resources
Inspiration Mars Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial spaceline Asteroid-mining firm hiring “space nuts” and interns Google’s billionaire co-founders and filmmaker James Cameron’s owned asteroid-mining focused Planetary Resources has started hiring interns for 2013. The much-hyped start-up is seeking college students for paid positions starting in January to help develop the next-generation technology for space mining. Planetary Resources’ president Chris Lewicki, who bills himself as “chief asteroid miner," says the company hopes to launch the first mining mission by the end of the decade. If you think you are a bit too old for an internship, there are also other job listings at Planetary Resources, including one posting calling for a "General Space Nut." The company says to prepare among others for the following questions during the job interview: Are you a space nut? Though focused on space mining, the company promises most positions are very much down to Earth. Asteroids are rich in valuable minerals. NASA takes asteroid mining seriously; funds viability study >> >>
Elon Musk Wants Giant SpaceX Spaceship to Fly People to Mars by 2024 SpaceX aims to launch its first cargo mission to Mars in 2022 and send people toward the Red Planet just two years after that. Those are just two of the highlights of the company's current Mars-colonization plan, which SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk unveiled early Friday morning EDT (Sept. 29) at the 68th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Adelaide, Australia. Musk's talk — which took place Friday afternoon local Adelaide time — served to update the architecture the billionaire entrepreneur revealed at last year's IAC, in Guadalajara, Mexico. That previous presentation introduced a huge, reusable rocket-spaceship combo called the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS), which Musk envisioned helping to establish a million-person city on Mars within the next 50 to 100 years. As Musk described it last year, the roughly 40-foot-wide (12 meters) ITS booster would feature 42 Raptor engines. The new plan retains this same basic idea, but with some important tweaks.
"Asteroid Miners Wanted" --Planetary Resources Help-Wanted Messages Signal the New Commercial Space Age “Do you want to be an Asteroid Miner? Well, here’s your chance!” — announced Planetary Resources. “We’re looking for passionate college students for paid coop positions to help us mine asteroids this spring and summer. If you love space and want to contribute directly to the development of the next generation of space exploration technologies, we want to hear from you (or from anyone you know that you think would be interested)." — Chris Lewicki, President & Chief Asteroid Miner, Planetary Resources, Inc. PRI provides a unique and intimate work environment where you can make an immediate impact on product development and the fulfillment of primary company objectives. Asteroids are primordial material left over from the formation of the Solar System. Many of these near-Earth asteroids are easily accessible from Earth. Asteroid resources have some unique characteristics that make them especially attractive. We are only just beginning to realize the incredible potential of asteroids.
Space Exploration Systems Dawn of a Dream Meet the Dream Chaser® – a winged, lifting-body spacecraft that provides a flexible, credible, affordable solution for ISS crew transportation and a viable path to the future of human space flight operations for NASA, international and commercial space applications. Dream Chaser is the product of a dynamic collaboration among well-known, well-established industry leaders, experts and universities. SNC is currently working with NASA's Commercial Crew Program to develop and configure Dream Chaser for International Space Station servicing. Developed under our Space Exploration Systems Product Line, we are leveraging our long history and unrivaled record of success in developing innovative space technology and integrated systems. We are changing how space is accessed, explored and utilized through commercial means.
ICEYE - Global monitoring ZUBRIN: Tapping resources in space Entrepreneur Peter Diamandis recently announced the formation of Planetary Resources, a company whose goal is to mine asteroids for profit. While reportedly backed by a group of Google magnates and other high rollers, the prospects for this company appear quite problematic, as there is currently no technically feasible way to mine the precious metals that may exist in the asteroid belt and return them to Earth for sale. Yet, this picture could be changed radically were a law enacted that would create a basis for private-property claims in space. The asteroids, the Moon, Mars and other extraterrestrial bodies collectively contain vast areas of unexplored and potentially resource-rich territory. Consider the following: Enormous tracts of land were bought and sold in Kentucky for large sums of money a hundred years before settlers arrived despite the fact that, for purposes of development, trans-Appalachian America in the 1600s might as well have been Mars.
Orbital Sciences Corporation SpaceX Successfully Launches the Falcon Heavy—And Elon Musk's Roadster