The next space race will be between Google and Paypal.
Perhaps we'll see "Google Moon", the first settlement requiring a Google Account to live in...
Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
121–130 of 221 posts
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#122Wow. Second the comments about feeling about ten years old again. I hope beyond all hope that this is actually happening in my lifetime. Questions for those in the know: 1. Is there any legal precedent on whether or not they're even allowed to mine the asteroids? From what I understand the Moon can't be exploited by any one country or corporation. Does any similar law apply to asteroids? 2. How are they going to get…
Who's going to stop you, the Space Police?
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
If you're bringing an object that close to home, I don't know why you'd need someone up there just to teleoperate the equipment. At that distance, the lightspeed delay gets low enough that the person with the joystick could work from earth.
It might be worth having someone up there to fix the equipment when something goes wrong... unless by that time we've developed teleoperated robots with the flexibility and dexterity and sensitivity needed to make arbitrary on-site repairs. You might remember from the Hubble repair missions [1] that these relatively simple tasks you might expect to take a few hours in an Earth-based lab took /days/ of EVA time. Imagine how much more difficult such things would be when you have to squint at the job through a camera (not as good as an eyeball), use clumsy manipulators instead of your fingers (you'll have force-feedback if you're lucky, but forget about feeling textures), and with some lightspeed delay on top of that. Don't underestimate the value of other human senses, either; often the first indication of a machine failing is that it sounds or smells wrong.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-125#Extra-vehicular_activi...
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#124I love the optimism I naturally want to jump on the band wagon and I doubt my comment will get a single up vote but here it goes:
What about:
1) Biological issues (space viruses etc.)
2) Accidents (opps the orbit changed it's heading for Chicago)
3) More AI for robots, Skynet finally has a good resource base
4) "Today in the news global markets failed as PRI announced capturing a 1 billion metric ton astroid with 80% gold and platinum content"
I am actually super excited just thought it was interesting to think about the counter issues.
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#125This sounds awesome, but I couldn't help but think that once they've built a fleet of robots capable of moving entire asteroids around, there's another viable backup business model to which they could easily 'pivot':
1. Assemble several dozen (hundred?) of the non-platinum-bearing asteroids with your robots and aim them on a slingshot-accelerated path towards Earth.
2. Threaten the entire world (or at least rich countries) with massive kinetic orbital bombardment.
3. ... profit!
Brought to you by the guy who coined "Nuke them from orbit - it's the only way to be sure."
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#126The next space race will be between Google and Paypal.
I don't know, companies seems to act more ratinal, than people or countries.
Isn't it more rational to collaborate, when there is almost infinite potential profit and huge risk?
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
"One possibility the company is considering is to nudge a small asteroid, perhaps one as long as a football field, into an orbit around Earth closer than the moon." I hope they're careful. :-)
This leads to scary thoughts on using this for military purposes
This scary thought makes up much of the backdrop for one of my favourite scifi stories, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Definitely worth a (re)read given this latest news!
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#128This NY Times article has a lot more information: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/24/science/space/in-pursuit-o... . It's wonderful to see people spending huge amounts of money to expand the reach of humanity instead of our capacity for narcissism. Startups like these give me hope for the future.
What makes you think this isn't about narcissism?
What if it is? (I don't think it is, but let's assume for a moment). Does it matter? We will still advance as a species, regardless of the motivation of the original backers.
One of my favourite aspects of capitalism is that it can provide individuals with an incentive to achieve goals that benefit the species as a whole. Sure, the backers will get richer, and they will get loads of personal press out of it. But we will finally be expanding our resource gathering to the near solar system. That is worth feeding someone's ego IMO!
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#129We've had discussions on HN before about NASA and man vs robotic space exploration. It's really hard to convince people that NASA should not be going to Mars and not be going back to the moon with people at this time. The best way for NASA to spend its money is to build LOTS of robotic explorers/surveyors and learn as much about the solar system as possible. When we find something of value then it'll be time to send humans, which should take more than 15-25 years once we survey the solar system. At that point we'll have a VC bubble with people trying to extract whatever resources we find.
Re: Asteroid Mining Venture Backed by Google Execs, James Cameron Unveiled
#130Earlier quoted context omitted.
This leads to scary thoughts on using this for military purposes
Someone has already thought about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment
Just don't forget that rocks are not free, citizen.
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Rocks_Are_Not_Free!#.T5aK4Kf...