Currently viewing Global edition

Space mineral search could be getting off the ground

Off-Earth mining is moving into the realm of the possible as private sector initiatives push the envelope of what is perceived as feasible in future, although huge information gaps need to be overcome, delegates at the 7th Current Trends in Mining Finance conference organized by the New York chapter of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration have heard.

Space mineral search could be getting off the ground Space mineral search could be getting off the ground Space mineral search could be getting off the ground Space mineral search could be getting off the ground Space mineral search could be getting off the ground

Mining on the moon? NASA image

The progress Elon Musk's Space X company in developing and deploying its reusable Falcon 9 Heavy rocket is disrupting launch economics of getting into Earth orbit and then onto the moon.