asteroid mining

Asteroid mining is the hypothetical extraction of valuable materials—metals, water, and minerals—from asteroids in space.

The concept has attracted serious interest from both private companies and space agencies because asteroids contain platinum-group metals and other resources rare on Earth.

Water extracted from asteroids could potentially be converted to rocket fuel, enabling deeper space exploration.

While no commercial asteroid mining has yet occurred, advances in robotics and spacecraft technology have moved it from pure science fiction toward engineering challenge.