The first time I was exposed to the concept of space-based industry was playing PC game Privateer as a kid. You land on these giant asteroids with attached mining bases... to transport ore to planets and refineries.
It never made sense to me. Why setup all of this massive capital investment for mere ore?
I think one of the very first space industries is going to be automated mining, refining, and production of nuclear fuel. Once freed from the widespread and totally irrational fear of nuclear technology here on Earth, the magnitude of advantage of nuclear power is stunning. Before the regulatory regime killed nuclear investment, it was well on its way to becoming cheaper than coal.
Cheap, abundant energy solves virtually every human problem, whether on earth or in space. A stable supply of space based nuclear fuel will lead to exponential growth in space based activity and greatly simplify colonization of our solar system... and beyond.
It never made sense to me. Why setup all of this massive capital investment for mere ore?
I think one of the very first space industries is going to be automated mining, refining, and production of nuclear fuel. Once freed from the widespread and totally irrational fear of nuclear technology here on Earth, the magnitude of advantage of nuclear power is stunning. Before the regulatory regime killed nuclear investment, it was well on its way to becoming cheaper than coal.
Cheap, abundant energy solves virtually every human problem, whether on earth or in space. A stable supply of space based nuclear fuel will lead to exponential growth in space based activity and greatly simplify colonization of our solar system... and beyond.