Mining the Apollo and Amor Asteroids
@article{OLeary1977MiningTA, title={Mining the Apollo and Amor Asteroids}, author={Brian O'Leary}, journal={Science}, year={1977}, volume={197}, pages={363 - 366} }
Earth-approaching asteroids could provide raw materials for space manufacturing. For certain asteroids the total energy per unit mass for the transfer of asteroidal resources to a manufacturing site in high Earth orbit is comparable to that for lunar materials. For logistical reasons the cost may be many times less. Optical studies suggest that these asteroids have compositions corresponding to those of carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites, with some containing large quantities of iron and…
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