Defining a successful commercial asteroid mining program

This paper summarizes a commercial Asteroid Mining Architecture synthesized by the Senior Space Design Class at the University of Washington in Winter/Spring Quarters of 2013. The main author was the instructor for that class. These results use design-to-cost development methods and focused infrastr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Acta astronautica Vol. 108; pp. 106 - 118
Main Authors:	Andrews, Dana G., Bonner, K.D., Butterworth, A.W., Calvert, H.R., Dagang, B.R.H., Dimond, K.J., Eckenroth, L.G., Erickson, J.M., Gilbertson, B.A., Gompertz, N.R., Igbinosun, O.J., Ip, T.J., Khan, B.H., Marquez, S.L., Neilson, N.M., Parker, C.O., Ransom, E.H., Reeve, B.W., Robinson, T.L., Rogers, M., Schuh, P.M., Tom, C.J., Wall, S.E., Watanabe, N., Yoo, C.J.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2015
Subjects:	Architecture Asteroid Mining Cost analysis Development of Space Resources Financing Infrastructure Investment Liquid oxygen Panels Single Stage to Orbit Slopes Space Operations Center Space Operations Center Single Stage to Orbit Asteroid Mining Development of Space Resources
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Summary:	This paper summarizes a commercial Asteroid Mining Architecture synthesized by the Senior Space Design Class at the University of Washington in Winter/Spring Quarters of 2013. The main author was the instructor for that class. These results use design-to-cost development methods and focused infrastructure advancements to identify and characterize a workable space industrialization architecture including space transportation elements, asteroid exploration and mining equipment, and the earth orbit infrastructure needed to make it all work. Cost analysis predicts that for an initial investment in time and money equivalent to that for the US North Slope Oil Field, the yearly world supply of Platinum Group Metals could be increased by 50%, roughly 1500t of LOX/LH2 propellant/year would be available in LEO, and very low cost solar panels could be assembled at GEO using asteroidal materials. The investment also would have a discounted net present value return on investment of 22% over twenty years. •We modeled the system using existing or near-‐term (~ 5 years) technologies, and included the necessary technology development costs in the business case.•We assumed current Asteroid Exploration efforts (Planetary Resources & Deep Space Industries) would continue and be successful, and then sent prospector satellites to the richest ores (assumes we had a business arrangement with PR, DSI, or both).•We used commercial development schedules and commercial cost estimating relationships and ground-rules.•Our nuclear-electric tugs used SOA technologies from Sandia and the Idaho National Laboratories and their recommended technology development cost and schedules.•The Electrode-less Lorentz Force (ELF) thruster using water as propellant was the major factor in generating profits. This thruster is undergoing life testing at a local University-sponsored facility.•We designed-to-cost with measured redundancy and cost of failures included in the business plan.•The primary product to generate profits was Platinum Group Metals delivered to the ground, and water delivered to Earth Orbit.•Once the infrastructure was in place and operating, operating costs were minimal and profits became lucrative.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0094-5765 1879-2030
DOI:	10.1016/j.actaastro.2014.10.034