AstroForge, a private company, is set to launch a microwave oven-sized spacecraft toward the asteroid 2022 OB5 in an attempt to mine precious metals and create vast fortunes on Earth. The company aims to kickstart the asteroid mining industry, which experienced setbacks in the past due to lack of investor enthusiasm.
AstroForge has already launched a demonstration spacecraft into Earth’s orbit and raised $55 million in funding. The spacecraft, called Odin, will travel deep into space towards the near-Earth asteroid 2022 OB5. The mission is the first operational mission beyond the moon launched by a commercial company.
The asteroid is estimated to be an M-type, potentially rich in metals like iron, nickel, and platinum group metals (P.G.M.s). The success of the mission could have significant implications for space mining and the future of resource extraction in space.
Despite past failures in the asteroid mining industry, AstroForge is optimistic about the potential success of the mission. The company aims to land a spacecraft on the asteroid in the future to extract resources and plans to use in-house components to improve the technology.
Odin’s mission will pave the way for future space exploration and resource extraction initiatives. The results of the mission could significantly impact the asteroid mining industry and provide insights into the feasibility of mining asteroids for valuable metals. Ultimately, success would mean the realization of the riches long promised by asteroid mining ventures.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
