Resources Of The Asteroids

J. S. Lewis. (1997), JBIS, 50, pp.51-58

Refcode: 1997.50.51

Abstract:

Use of the resources of the asteroids has been a topic for visionaries as far back as the earliest twilight of the space age. The father of astronautics, Konstantin Edouardovich Tsiolkovskii [1], envisioned the use of asteroidal resources. His fourteen points for the development of space travel built upon space agriculture (Point 9) to feed orbiting space colonies (Point 10), leading to the development of solar energy as a source of electrical power and transportation in space (Point 11). Once this foothold was present in space, the exploitation of asteroid resources (Point 12) would make possible largescale industrialisation of space (Point 13). His 14th Point, befitting a true visionary, was to use this limitless source of wealth for the perfection of mankind and society.