Start-up develops technology for mining resources on asteroids

Space exploration is on the verge of a bold leap as private initiatives target asteroids as sources of valuable resources. Spearheaded by the California-based startup AstroForge, the race to extract minerals from celestial bodies gained momentum in 2025 with the launch of the Odin spacecraft in February. The mission, aimed at analyzing the composition of asteroid 2022 OB5, marks the beginning of an ambitious plan to harvest rare metals, such as those in the platinum group, essential for renewable technologies. Despite technical setbacks, like the loss of communication with Odin, the company remains determined to turn space mining into reality.

The interest in this new frontier is not recent. For decades, scientists have speculated about the potential of asteroids, which may hold metal concentrations far exceeding those found on Earth. AstroForge, founded by Matt Gialich, bets that the coming years will be pivotal in proving the economic and technological feasibility of the project. Meanwhile, experts debate the environmental impacts and logistical challenges of bringing these resources back to Earth, at a time when terrestrial mining faces rising costs and environmental criticism.

The Odin mission, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, was set to undertake a nine-month journey to its target asteroid, located about eight million kilometers from Earth. Although communication issues have hampered real-time tracking, AstroForge views the setback as a learning opportunity. Gialich emphasizes that each hurdle overcome brings the company closer to a future where space exploration could meet terrestrial demands, easing pressure on the planet’s ecosystems.

• Key objectives of the Odin mission:
  • Analyze the composition of asteroid 2022 OB5.
  • Test deep-space navigation technologies.
  • Lay groundwork for future mining operations.

A new era in space resource exploration

The concept of asteroid mining has moved beyond science fiction, drawing significant investment. Victor Vescovo, a key backer of AstroForge and renowned for exploring the deepest ocean points, believes the project is viable in the long term. He likens the challenge to historic breakthroughs, such as the Wright brothers’ first flight, and argues that current technology enables initial steps. For Vescovo, retrieving even micrograms of material will kickstart the scaling process.

Technological advancements over the past decade underpin this ambition. Reusable rockets, like those from SpaceX, have slashed launch costs, dropping from $10,000 per 450 grams 15 years ago to a few thousand today. This affordability empowers private companies, once reliant on government agencies. Additionally, new observatories, such as the Vera C. Rubin in Chile, promise to enhance the identification of mineral-rich asteroids, streamlining mission planning.

Skeptics, however, question the immediate practicality of space mining. Ian Lange, a professor at the Colorado School of Mines, notes that the absence of gravity complicates traditional extraction processes, such as ore separation. He suggests that novel techniques will need development, potentially taking decades. Still, interest grows as terrestrial mining becomes costlier and less sustainable, especially for metals like rhodium, priced at $183,000 per kilogram.

Why asteroids spark such interest

Near-Earth asteroids, ranging from a few meters to half a kilometer in size, are prime targets due to their accessibility and composition. Research indicates many contain high concentrations of platinum-group metals—platinum, palladium, and rhodium—widely used in fuel cells and electronics. These resources, increasingly scarce on Earth, come with extraction costs that soar financially and environmentally.

Terrestrial mining, for instance, has severe impacts. Producing one kilogram of platinum on Earth emits around 40,000 kilograms of CO2, owing to its rarity in the crust, at just 0.0005 parts per million. By contrast, a 2018 study estimates asteroid mining would emit 150 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram of platinum, a stark difference. This environmental edge is a core argument for companies like AstroForge, which see space as a way to preserve Earth’s resources.

Beyond precious metals, other resources intrigue experts. Water, found in some asteroids, can be converted into oxygen for life support or hydrogen for rocket fuel. Clay could be used in 3D printers to build space habitats. Daynan Crull of Karmen+, a startup planning a 2027 launch, bets on this space-based economy, targeting resources for direct use in orbit, such as satellite maintenance and habitat construction.

• Potential asteroid resources:
  • Platinum-group metals (platinum, rhodium, palladium).
  • Water for oxygen and hydrogen.
  • Clay for 3D construction.

Technical and commercial challenges ahead

Extracting minerals in space demands overcoming hurdles beyond launch technology. The lack of gravity makes material separation an unsolved puzzle. Chemical or thermal processes, standard on Earth, require adaptation for the vacuum of space, driving up development costs. AstroForge aims to collect grams of metal in future missions, but scaling to commercial quantities, like kilograms, will take years of refinement.

The business model also sparks debate. While Earth still holds accessible metal reserves, such as in the deep sea, the economic case for space mining is questioned. Ian Lange argues that, though technically feasible, financial returns may not justify short-term investment. Kathryn Miller of Lancaster University counters that deep-sea mining destroys marine ecosystems, making asteroids a less harmful alternative.

Recent history shows the path is tough. Pioneers like Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries faced financial struggles and were absorbed into other ventures by the late 2010s. AstroForge, however, leverages support from investors like Vescovo and builds on prior successes, such as JAXA and NASA missions that retrieved asteroid samples in 2005, 2014, and 2020.

Timeline of upcoming space mining milestones

AstroForge isn’t alone in the race. Companies like TransAstra plan 2025 demonstrations, such as testing an inflatable “capture bag” on the International Space Station. Karmen+ targets its first sampling mission for 2027, focusing on space-use resources. These efforts follow a timeline blending innovation with ambitious goals:

• 2025: AstroForge’s next launch to address Odin’s setbacks.
• 2027: Karmen+’s debut mission for sampling tests.
• 2030-2040: Potential start of commercial operations, per expert projections.

This timeline reflects the optimism of pioneers like Gialich, who see the next decade as critical for establishing space mining. Lower launch costs, paired with advances in sensors and robotics, bolster this vision, though technical and legal uncertainties linger.

Environmental and ethical impacts under scrutiny

Launching rockets consumes energy and pollutes, but proponents argue the impact pales compared to terrestrial mining’s devastation. Habitat destruction, gas emissions, and social conflicts tied to traditional mines weigh heavily against Earth-based options. Monica Grady of the Open University warns, however, that space shouldn’t become a “cosmic dump,” stressing the need to manage extraction debris.

Ethical concerns also arise. Deganit Paikowsky of George Washington University notes that space mining could shift power dynamics, favoring tech-advanced nations over mineral-rich ones. Commercializing resources for Earth might spark geopolitical tensions, while space-only use is seen as less contentious.

Rosanna Deplano, a space law expert, highlights that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty doesn’t ban mining but leaves ownership unclear. The 1979 Moon Treaty, ratified by few nations, deems resources a common good, yet lacks enforcement. A 2027 UN meeting will address the issue, though without binding outcomes, suggesting national interests may shape the future.

The future of the space economy at stake

Asteroid mining could unlock a space economy valued at $1.8 trillion by 2035, per the World Economic Forum. Neil deGrasse Tyson predicts the first trillionaire will emerge from this sector, a notion exciting investors like Vescovo. For AstroForge, success hinges on proving rare metals can be extracted and eventually sold, starting with small amounts that pave the way for larger operations.

Meanwhile, firms like Karmen+ focus on resources to sustain human presence in space, such as water and building materials. This approach cuts Earth-to-orbit transport costs and supports projects like orbital habitats and lunar bases. TransAstra develops complementary technologies, like capture systems, adaptable for mining.

Legal uncertainties and technical challenges don’t deter pioneers. Gialich argues that asteroids’ abundance offers an infinite reserve to protect Earth’s resources. Whether for space or planetary use, asteroid mining is redefining exploration beyond terrestrial bounds, with implications spanning technology to geopolitics.