It was just over a year ago , back in April 2012 , that we first discover the aim ofa company get it on as Planetary resource : Asteroid mining . As in go into blank , determine an asteroid that ’s not - too - far from Earth , and mine it for precious mineral and/or water which could be used as blank - fuel for other missions . In a news : Ambitious .
https://gizmodo.com/new-asteroid-mining-company-may-solve-worlds-economic-p-5904081
A brace month later , we learned that Planetary Resources was view letting your modal Joe in on the action by usingthe crowd - funding site Kickstarter . A trivial odd for a company whose investors include Google ’s Larry Page and Eric Schmidt , James Cameron , and Ross Perot Jr , but part of the thought seemed to get multitude really concerned ( and , literally , seat ) in space geographic expedition , and rumored backer rewards include matter being able to take photos with one of the exploratory satellites All has been quiet since last June , but we just pay back a hot tip that it ’s now officially official , andthe Kickstarter Project has just gone live .
https://gizmodo.com/would-you-like-to-be-a-space-miner-5920240
See , in club to mine asteroid , Planetary Resources are pass away to deploy several different case of spacecraft . The first step is the Arkyd 100 , a small , relatively inexpensive artificial satellite with a telescope that will be put into Earth ’s orbit . These orbiter telescopes are what they will use to identify the best likely asteroids . This Kickstarter is doing something unique , though : they are put the control of one of Arkyd 100s into your hand .
The dispirited - ending reward include a place “ selfie . ” For $ 25 a picture of your choosing will display on the Arkyd ’s screen , and it will take a picture of itself with the Earth in the background . That does n’t give you any literal ascendance over the Arkyd , but for 25 horse , that ’s still pretty all-fired cool . As you get into high assurance , you get to stuff like the ability to use the Arkyd to take a impression of anything you want , in space or on Earth . For more money , you may keep track of that spot , or take a series of photos . you could also donate your metre to science , or to schools . Planetary Resources is go to make supererogatory metre uncommitted for educational attempt .
The Kickstarterattempting to get up $ 1,000,000 in 32 days , which is obviously a lot , but hell , we ’ve ensure video games make for ( and reach ) $ 2 yard goal before . What ’s interesting is that for that relatively small amount , it seems that Planetary Resources is n’t reckon to fund its loftier goals ( asteroid excavation ) , it seems more that they are trying to cover the costs of give an assailable space orbiter to the world , which is something we ’ve never seen before . At a clock time when NASA budgets are getting gash like crazy , we ’re die to get mass more interested in scientific discipline and infinite geographic expedition . By democratize a part of it , that might just be the flicker needed to fuel the vision of a Modern generation of scientist . At least we go for so . How many more stockbrokers do we necessitate ? [ Planetary Resources / Kickstarter ]
UPDATE : The projection has reached it ’s end of one million space - dollars ! A Brobdingnagian accomplishment , to be sure , but rather than roost on their Stan Laurel , they are up the ante .
If the effort reaches US$ 2 million , Planetary Resources has entrust to enhance the ARKYD with advanced applied science to hunt for what scientists call extrasolar planet or “ exoplanets ” – which are very much foreign worlds . For the first metre ever , this capability will be placed directly into the hands of the populace .
Okay , now that is amazing . quad - selfies are nerveless and all , but to have the fortune to avail discover Earth 2 : Habitable Boogaloo ? That ’s passably special . So , we ’ve got 10 days and need another million buck . Let ’s make this encounter , the great unwashed !
NASASpace
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , skill , and culture news show in your inbox daily .
News from the future , deliver to your nowadays .
Please select your desired newssheet and accede your e-mail to upgrade your inbox .
You May Also Like
