AstroForge, an asteroid mining startup, has successfully completed a hot fire test for its Brokkr-2 surveyor spacecraft, setting the stage for a scheduled launch in the first quarter of 2024. The spacecraft will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket and is part of Intuitive Machines’ second lunar landing mission.
The mission aims to fly by an undisclosed asteroid, collecting data and high-quality images to confirm the presence of valuable metals. The project is notably cost-effective, with a budget under $10 million, which is significantly lower than similar missions like NASA’s $1.4 billion Psyche voyage.
AstroForge aims to ultimately mine platinum-group metals from near-Earth asteroids and has long-term plans to refine these metals on-site before returning them to Earth. The falling costs of launching and spacecraft production have made asteroid mining an increasingly viable economic endeavor.
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