Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Asteroid mining offers the potential to alleviate Earth's resource scarcity by extracting valuable materials from near-Earth objects (NEOs). A critical enabler of this emerging industry is solar power, which provides a sustainable and efficient energy source for space operations. This paper examines the role of solar power in asteroid mining, highlighting advancements in photovoltaic technology and progression in solar sail power systems. It also explores the economic feasibility, environmental considerations, and future challenges of solar-powered mining operations. As space exploration progresses, solar power is poised to play a central role in the development of a space-based economy through asteroid mining.
Author: Aryan Bardeja
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4402645002