How could resources in space be extracted transported and processed for use?

The most likely method would be to scrape desired material off the asteroid, and tunnel into veins of specific substances. Scraping, or strip mining, will pull out valuable ore that will float off the asteroid. Because much of the ore will fly off, a large canopy might be used to collect it.

Can diamonds form in space?

In 1987, scientists found nanodiamonds — tiny microscopic pieces of diamonds — in meteorites. The scientists conducted experiments here on Earth mimicking the temperatures and pressures on these planets and found that they are intense enough to form diamonds.

What are refinery products and processes?

An Overview of Refinery Products and Processes. Distillation process separates the crude oil into boiling point fractions. The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) constitutes the lowest boiling point (most volatile) product from a refinery and higher boiling fractions lead to most desirable distillate liquids, such as gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel,…

What is the first step in the refining process?

This is the first and most basic step in the refining process, and is the precursor to cracking and reforming. Cracking involves breaking up heavy molecules into lighter (and more valuable) hydrocarbons.

What are the challenges of asteroid mining?

At present, asteroid mining is a highly speculative technique; the research and technology to successfully exploit these mineral resources is still under development. Challenges include categorization and identification of mineable deposits, building the infrastructure to mine and refine asteroid material,…

Is space mining the next big thing for the industry?

While space mining is still a decade or so off, next year the industry is ramping up their efforts. The asteroid belt is brimming with metals – everything from iron and nickel, to gold and platinum.