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Space and mining researchers from around the world are gathering at the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney for the inaugural Off Earth Mining Forum. They are looking at developing machines that can harvest materials from lunar soil while being remotely controlled from earth. Experts in space exploration, engineering, robotics, drilling and a space lawyer shared ideas about how existing technologies can be applied to develop remote-controlled mining in space. At present, large-scale space mining is the stuff of science fiction movies. But Gordon Roesler, Senior Project Engineer at ACSER, insists it is not only safe, but could have positive environmental consequences for life on earth.
Originally posted by Lady_Tuatha
reply to post by ForwardDrift
Well at the minute they seem to be talking about beaming energy down from solar power plants via microwaves ( i dont know the indepth process I just know what was said in the interview in the link i posted). I think that will be something that could pay for itself over time, agreed the initial cost would be high to build such power plants in space but instead of bleeding this planet dry and wrecking havoc on the environment whilst doing so i think this could be a viable alternative.
I currently can't really be asked reading the article, I apologize for this, but what exactly are they mining for? I'm just going to assume it's on of those Hydrogen variants that are lying on the moon's surface, or atleast that's what the movie Moon thaught me?
Originally posted by 19KTankCommander
reply to post by Rendier
I currently can't really be asked reading the article, I apologize for this, but what exactly are they mining for? I'm just going to assume it's on of those Hydrogen variants that are lying on the moon's surface, or atleast that's what the movie Moon thaught me?
I assume that they will be mining for H3 (Heluim Three) which is used for nuculear Fusion (110% Safer) than Nuculear Fission, this is not new news but an attempt that was made back in the early 1980 prior to the shuttle blowing up.
Resource for this is my Cousin who works for the DOE and Madison University.
About time its a lot cheaper and safer way to provide us with electricity.