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Resource Recovery Facilities for Earth Approaching Comets

by Thomas C. Taylor, GLOBAL OUTPOST, Inc, College Park, United States,
Anthony C. Zuppero, GLOBAL OUTPOST, Inc, College Park, United States,
Lucy-Ann McFadden, GLOBAL OUTPOST, Inc, College Park, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space IV

Abstract:

Mankind's next large resource location may be off the planet. The facilities required for mining and material processing offer interesting concepts for the development of mankind's first off planet settlement. The construction and mining teams would arrive first, then commerce and settlement. The recovery of the resource can create large habitable volumes. The cost of doing business in space must come down an order of magnitude, but the technology is achievable. America has invested thirty years and significant money in the development of space technology and now can apply this experience to the development of off-planet resources worth billions per year. Commercial resource recovery organizations that invest billions in earth resource development can now become interested in space, if a market environment is created. Water, for example, in earth orbit can become cryogenic propellants and have a significant impact on the development of space. An order of magnitude reduction in the cost of propellants can change the timetable of mankind's movement off the planet.

Subject Headings: Space exploration | Recycling | Space colonies | Planets | Materials processing | Construction management | Benefit cost ratios

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