Table of Contents
Science Team
Asteroids
Types
S-Type (Stony)
Anhydrous rocky material, which consist mostly of silicates, sulphides and metals. These asteroids are predominately found in the inner Asteroid Belt.
M-Type (Metallic)
Made up of predominately nickel-iron and inhabit primarily the middle region of the Asteroid belt.
C-Type (Carbonaceous)
These Asteroids are mostly consisting clay and silicate rocks and tend to have the highest abundance of water (upwards of 22%), and are the most common asteroid type forming upwards of 75% of the known asteroids. Their high water content is a result of primarily residing in the outer Asteroid Belt, where the temperature on the surface of the asteroids does not get hot enough for liquid water, which would evaporate. The location of the majority these asteroids belt which post a major logistic hurdle for the immediate future of mining to provide fuel to LEO spacecraft.
G-Type (Carbonaceous)
The G-Type asteroid is very similar to the C-Type in composition with the exception that they tend to have a much stronger ultraviolet absorption feature below 0.5 um. According to a study performed by Fornasier, Barucci and Lazzarin entitled “Aqueous alteration on main belt primitive asteroids: Results from Visible Spectroscopy all 18 G-type Asteroids contained evidence of water in the form of hydrated minerals. These asteroids exist in the Near Earth Objects (NEO) groups and will be considerably easier to reach logistically then the C-Type Asteroids.
Water Ice vs Hydrated Minerals
Water Ice
Water can present as water ice on asteroids which that exist within the middle of the Asteroid Belt and farther. These Asteroids have not been heated enough sufficiently to have lost their water through evaporation. Water Ice can be collected through a simple heating procedure on a prospecting vehicle. However because Water ice is not located on asteroids closer to Earth, it is not very likely that these will be utilized in the early days of asteroid mining
Hydrated Minerals
Hydrated minerals exist on Earth, on other planets such as Mars as well as on Type-G Asteroids. While the minerals may very – (Epsomite, Kieserite, Hexahydrate and Bloedite are common at the Meridiani Planum on Mars, while Class-S and G Asteroids commonly consist of Halloysite, Kaolinite, Antigorite, and Margarite to name a few), the techniques for processing and removing the water conceptually is something that has been done for decades. Large plants exist on Earth to accomplish this, while smaller versions have been suggested by organizations such as the Mars Society for use on Mars. The technology only needs to be adapted to a microgravity environment. This is not necessarily a trivial subject. LEO Speedwagon will partner with companies such as Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries who are actively researching and designing craft and techniques.