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I hate to admit it, but my brain initially processed the headline as: "Google execs have backed an asteroid mining venture. In other news, James Cameron has been unveiled." Then, after that horrendous attempt at comprehension, it came up with this, which was only slightly better: "James Cameron has unveiled an asteroid mining venture that is backed by Google execs."
As a scientist, I am so thrilled about this idea.
If mines are such ugly, destructive things, why is it that I find this development so beautiful?
Is it because asteroids are already ugly?
Maybe something to do with the serenity of the void.
But probably more related to this being a step forward? A sense of progression? Could come from growing up reading and imagining anything to do with space exploration.
How many people on HN want to grab their colleagues right now, shake them, and yell "Why aren't you currently amazed? We're going to be mining IN FRICKIN' SPACE within our lifetimes?"
How do I get a job as a space miner?
I think the comment about becoming a robot is accurate in its way, the 'pick' of a space miner is likely a semi-autonomous front loader equivalent which can process for a particular mineral/substance. However, if you read the article (either the parent or the NYTimes one) you will see that there is some thought about bringing an asteroid to one of the Lagrange points or into a Lunar orbit (something that would make t…
It's hard to be satirical about the future when all this stuff keeps coming true. ;)
Wow, they are not wasting time. Last week, the idea of an asteroid mining company was still in the realm of science fiction. Today, an asteroid mining company announces that they are launching a survey telescope within two years. It feels like we are entering a new era of technological progress. It makes me wonder what other surprising announcements are coming over the next few years in other fields.
So I wonder where this puts us on the hockey stick curve of space exploration? Are we at the point of the spinning jenny or more towards the cotton gin in humanity's space timeline? Probably doesn't matter if you are sufficiently far enough into the future and have to squint backwards.
If mines are such ugly, destructive things, why is it that I find this development so beautiful?
1. extract raw materials
2. apply labor + capital + innovation + time
3. sell final product for more than cost of inputs
4. Profit!!!
This announcement takes #1 literally out of this world. Still dirty perhaps, but beautiful.