XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 367
clean energy sources. This shift requires access to a variety
of critical metals (e.g., copper, nickel, phosphorous, plati-
num, gold and rare earth elements) to produce clean energy
technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, wave
power, space solar panel stations (SSPS) and energy storage
solutions (Ross 2001a). In this ever-increasing data-driven
world, there is a necessity for greater energy sources, and
demand for the materials required to build these energy
technologies (IEA 2021). As the demand for critical metals
such as cobalt, copper, lithium, and rare earth metals con-
tinues to grow, their availability and economic feasibility
may soon become limited, potentially leading to scarcity
in the near future (Henckens 2021 Sanchez and McInnes
2011). As our access to these metals on earth is limited, the
proposal of extracting these minerals from space may offer
us the answer we are looking for, rapid growth to access
these materials can contribute to a more sustainable energy
future.
Space mining of asteroids and the moon offers vital
minerals such as platinum group metals, nickel, iron, and
rare earth elements (REEs) (ÖZMEN 2022). Meeting the
surging demand for these minerals amid the energy tran-
sition is a key potential benefit (Fabre, Fodha, and Ricci
2020). Space mining offers the potential for entirely new
industries to develop and build from the ground up.
Companies like Planetary Resources, SpaceX, Deep Space
Industries (Bradford), Micro-Space Inc., and many others
are vigorously developing, advising, and manufacturing
technologies that could revolutionize the way we mine,
process, and analyse these materials from extra-terrestrial
resources (Skauge 2019). Recent new technologies and
new extraction methods have been developed to enhance
our chances of exploring space mining. Businesses, gov-
ernments, and investors alike are increasingly attracted to
the commercial potential of space mining opportunities
(Hellgren 2016 Skauge 2019). The ultimate success of this
new space industry hangs on countries’ ability to join forces
to develop the safety standards and protocols to prevent
potential conflict or lack of progress due to obstruction. As
this exciting industry develops, partnerships between coun-
tries to allow this progress is critical in empowering a clean
energy transition.
Major Challenges of Extracting Critical Minerals From
Space
Despite the potential benefits of space mining, there are a
number of challenges that must be overcome. Some of the
challenges have been briefly explained in below subsections:
High Expenditure on Space Travel With Mining
Equipment
The cost of launching a rocket into space is currently about
$2,700 per kilogram (Source: (Maneesh Gupta 2021)
(Figure 1). This means that it would cost around $2,7 mil-
lion to launch a single ton of mining equipment into space
(Sterling Saletta and Orrman-Rossiter 2018a) (Source:
(Amos 2018)(Figure 2). In addition, the equipment must
be designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space,
including extreme temperatures, radiation, and micrograv-
ity. This can add to the cost of the equipment (Sterling
Source: (Maneesh Gupta 2021)
Figure 1. A comparison of the cost of launch rocket
clean energy sources. This shift requires access to a variety
of critical metals (e.g., copper, nickel, phosphorous, plati-
num, gold and rare earth elements) to produce clean energy
technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, wave
power, space solar panel stations (SSPS) and energy storage
solutions (Ross 2001a). In this ever-increasing data-driven
world, there is a necessity for greater energy sources, and
demand for the materials required to build these energy
technologies (IEA 2021). As the demand for critical metals
such as cobalt, copper, lithium, and rare earth metals con-
tinues to grow, their availability and economic feasibility
may soon become limited, potentially leading to scarcity
in the near future (Henckens 2021 Sanchez and McInnes
2011). As our access to these metals on earth is limited, the
proposal of extracting these minerals from space may offer
us the answer we are looking for, rapid growth to access
these materials can contribute to a more sustainable energy
future.
Space mining of asteroids and the moon offers vital
minerals such as platinum group metals, nickel, iron, and
rare earth elements (REEs) (ÖZMEN 2022). Meeting the
surging demand for these minerals amid the energy tran-
sition is a key potential benefit (Fabre, Fodha, and Ricci
2020). Space mining offers the potential for entirely new
industries to develop and build from the ground up.
Companies like Planetary Resources, SpaceX, Deep Space
Industries (Bradford), Micro-Space Inc., and many others
are vigorously developing, advising, and manufacturing
technologies that could revolutionize the way we mine,
process, and analyse these materials from extra-terrestrial
resources (Skauge 2019). Recent new technologies and
new extraction methods have been developed to enhance
our chances of exploring space mining. Businesses, gov-
ernments, and investors alike are increasingly attracted to
the commercial potential of space mining opportunities
(Hellgren 2016 Skauge 2019). The ultimate success of this
new space industry hangs on countries’ ability to join forces
to develop the safety standards and protocols to prevent
potential conflict or lack of progress due to obstruction. As
this exciting industry develops, partnerships between coun-
tries to allow this progress is critical in empowering a clean
energy transition.
Major Challenges of Extracting Critical Minerals From
Space
Despite the potential benefits of space mining, there are a
number of challenges that must be overcome. Some of the
challenges have been briefly explained in below subsections:
High Expenditure on Space Travel With Mining
Equipment
The cost of launching a rocket into space is currently about
$2,700 per kilogram (Source: (Maneesh Gupta 2021)
(Figure 1). This means that it would cost around $2,7 mil-
lion to launch a single ton of mining equipment into space
(Sterling Saletta and Orrman-Rossiter 2018a) (Source:
(Amos 2018)(Figure 2). In addition, the equipment must
be designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space,
including extreme temperatures, radiation, and micrograv-
ity. This can add to the cost of the equipment (Sterling
Source: (Maneesh Gupta 2021)
Figure 1. A comparison of the cost of launch rocket