Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – Asteroids, those rocky bodies that orbit the sun, may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about natural resources. But hidden within these celestial bodies are vast quantities of precious materials such as water, rare metals, and valuable minerals. The allure of asteroid mining lies in the abundance of these resources and their potential to reshape industries on Earth and beyond. The possible industrialization of materials in space has been long considered an attractive option taking into account travel and transportation to space hence the feasibility and the possible value that can be generated would have to be taken into account prior to venturing into such a mission.
The Asteroid Mining Corp. has indicated that isn’t counting on the space resources market becoming a reality anytime soon according to a report on spacenews.com.
Mitch Hunter-Scullion, the CEO and founder of Asteroid Mining Corp., made it clear during the Space Economy Summit on October 11 that the company sees itself as a robotics enterprise with ambitions in asteroid mining. He acknowledged the excitement surrounding the space resources industry but admitted that it is still in its early stages.
In the short term, this London-based startup will provide services through a six-legged, 20-kilogram robot named the Space Capable Asteroid Robotic-Explorer, or SCAR-E, which was unveiled at the Summit in a lively demonstration. Hunter-Scullion, a Scottish techno-futurist, humorously referred to it as performing “a wee dance” and even playfully challenged Boston Dynamics, known for its four-legged robots, by emphasizing SCAR-E’s additional two legs. The company’s strategy involves targeting the industrial inspection market and locations inaccessible to four-legged robots.
SCAR-E’s potential applications are promising. By attaching six-finger grippers to its feet, it will gain the ability to scale walls and inspect ship hulls, among other tasks. For future endeavors like lunar crater exploration and asteroid prospecting, SCAR-E’s mechanical and electronic components will be meticulously sealed to prevent the intrusion of regolith.
