Near earth asteroids will IGNITE space.

Asteroids are the jewels we want most of all in space.

It may be an unromantic, ugly business, but it's big money for anyone
that gets into it.

Near earth Asteroids are the easiest to get to, has the raw materials
that earth wants, and can return these materials to earth faster than
anyone else in space.

Profits would be the highest, cost would be the lowest, and financial
return would be the fastest.

Space settlements that include asteroid mining as one of its
activities or affiliations would be the most economically stable of
all.

Combining NEA's with other space products and service makes for a
long and promising life in space. A nice bulky space catalog helps.

Perhaps ironically, one of our products will be, no doubt, an earth
lander-launcher.

George
http://cygo.com/prods.html

--- In spacesettlers@y..., jdr7181@c... wrote:
> I have a question:
>
> Could a spacecraft be launched from Earth, rendezvous with and land
> on a Near-Earth Object (or perhaps the moon, though probably more
> complicated and expensive), mine the object and "fire" the raw
> material back to Earth (not LEO) for collection and processing?
>
> Assuming that's possible, are there products that could be
> manufactured from the raw material that are in high demand? In
other
> words, COULD such a project make money; specifically, enough money
to
> bootstrap further commercial space activities?
>
> Things to consider:
>
> 1. The NEAR Shoemaker succesfully landed on Eros.
> 2. There are several planned missions to return samples from NEOs
> (ASR is one notable commercial endeaver - they intend to turn a
> profit).
> 3. Inco Limited out of Canada has been doing extensive research
into
> the prospect of Telemining (albeit, here on Earth).
> 4. Automated Mining Systems specializes in remote teleoperation
and
> autonomous guidance of mining equipment.
>
> Additional questions:
>
> 1. Any clever reentry and collection processes you might suggest?
> 2. Potential products? Rare and/or precious metals? He-3?
> 3. Are there products that could be made only in LEO or HEO that
> would be much more profitable? Could the products be manufactured
> remotely (avoiding manned presence early on to reduce cost)?
>
> Any ideas, suggestions or comments would be very welcomed. Keep in
> mind, I am a first-class layman who doesn't know his delta-v from
his