Month: November 2023
Smithsonian Unveils Bennu Asteroid Sample, Previews Future U.S. Exhibits
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., marked a notable event with the debut of a piece of asteroid Bennu. This sample is part of the collection returned to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which completed its journey by landing in Utah. At the [more…]
NASA’s Lucy Probe Discovers Mini Moon of Asteroid Dinkinesh
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft just completed a flyby of asteroid Dinkinesh, a small asteroid located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and discovered something new: a mini-moon in its small orbit. Dinkinesh itself measures just half a mile across, and its tiny satellite is even smaller, [more…]
Unlocking the Future of Space Mining: New Method Efficiently Extracts Metals from Asteroids
Scientists led by Rodolfo Rivera at the University of Leicester have developed a new method for extracting metals from asteroids, a process that could drastically change the future of space mining and exploration. The study was recently published in Scientific Reports and focuses on the use of [more…]
Space Exploration Fuels Innovation and Economic Opportunities, Paving the Way for Asteroid Mining
Debates over the cost and practicality of space exploration have been a point of contention for decades, yet the potential for innovation and economic gain remains a constant driver. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson argues that the first trillionaire could be someone who mines asteroids for natural resources. [more…]