Planetary Resources

Last updated

Planetary Resources
Founded1 January 2009  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Defunct31 October 2018  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Number of employees
60 (2019)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Planetary Resources, Inc., formerly known as Arkyd Astronautics, was an American company that was formed on 1 January 2009, [1] [2] and reorganized and renamed in 2012. Its stated goal was to "expand Earth's natural resource base" [3] by developing and deploying the technologies for asteroid mining.

Contents

Following financial troubles caused by "delayed investment", it was announced on 31 October 2018, that the company's human assets were purchased by the blockchain software technology company ConsenSys, Inc. [4] In May 2020, ConsenSys made all Planetary Resources intellectual property available to the public domain, and in June 2020, all the remaining hardware assets were auctioned off. [5]

Although the long-term goal of the company was to mine asteroids, its initial plans called for developing a market for small (30–50 kg) cost-reduced space telescopes for Earth observation and astronomy. These spacecraft would have employed a laser-optical system for ground communications, [6] reducing payload bulk and mass compared to conventional RF antennas.[ not verified in body ] The deployment of such orbital telescopes was envisioned as the first step forward in the company's asteroid mining ambitions. The same telescope satellite capabilities that Planetary Resources hoped to sell to customers could have been used to survey and intensively examine near-Earth asteroids.

Planetary launched two test satellites to orbit. Arkyd 3 Reflight (A3R) was launched and successfully transported to Earth orbit on 17 April 2015, on SpaceX's CRS-6 mission, and was deployed from the International Space Station via the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer on 16 July 2015. [7] [8] Arkyd 6, the company's second satellite, was successfully placed into orbit on 12 January 2018. [9]

History

Planetary Resources, Inc was founded as Arkyd Astronautics on 1 January 2009, [1] with Peter Diamandis as co-chairman and director, and Chris Lewicki as president and chief engineer. [2] According to co-founder Eric C. Anderson, the name "Arkyd Astronautics" was deliberately ambiguous, to help keep the company's asteroid-mining agenda secret. [10]

The company gained media attention in April 2012 with the announcement of a press conference, scheduled for 24 April 2012. [11] The initial press release provided limited information; as of 20 April 2012, only a list of major investors and advisors was known. [12] Included in the list were many people notable for their entrepreneurship and interest in space, exploration, and research. Some also had previous involvement in space research. It was speculated that Planetary Resources was "looking for ways to extract raw materials from non-Earth sources," as how it would (as stated in the press release) "add trillions of dollars to the global GDP." [12] From the outset, the dominant assumption was that the company intended to develop asteroid mining operations, [3] [12] [13] [14] with one anonymous source reportedly verifying that claim in advance of the April 24 event. [15] Arkyd Astronautics became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Planetary Resources. [10]

In July 2012, Planetary Resources announced an agreement with Virgin Galactic to enable multiple launch opportunities for its series of spacecraft on LauncherOne starting with the Arkyd-100 series of space telescopes. [16] [17] [18]

By January 2013, Planetary Resources had completed a ground test prototype of the Arkyd-100 and released a limited set of details publicly. [19]

In April 2013, Planetary Resources announced that Bechtel Corporation has joined Planetary Resources' group of investors and would be a collaborative partner in helping Planetary Resources achieve its long-term mission of mining asteroids. [20]

In April 2013, the company announced that they planned on launching a CubeSat called "Arkyd-3" (A3) in early 2014, as a testbed manifestation for the Arkyd-100 spacecraft. The purpose of the flight was to test technologies for the first Arkyd-100 spacecraft. [21] In the event, the first A3 was launched in fall of 2014 but was destroyed in a launch accident; a second A3 spacecraft—designated A3R—was launched in April 2015 and deployed into orbit in July 2015. [22]

In May 2013, Planetary Resources announced the launch of Kickstarter funding for the ARKYD-100. Their goal was surpassed on 19 June 2013. [23] However, funding for the initial space telescope was not forthcoming. The accompanying Kickstarter campaign was terminated and refunds were promised in May 2016. [24]

In June 2013, Planetary Resources took an undisclosed investment from 3D Systems and intends to make use of its 3D printing technology to manufacture components of the Arkyd spacecraft that Planetary Resources intends to use for finding near-Earth asteroids. [23] [25] By mid-2016, the company had grown to 60 employees, but still has no firm date for the launch of its first Arkyd satellite. [26]

A test satellite named Arkyd 3 Reflight (A3R) was launched and successfully transported to Earth orbit on 17 April 2015 and was deployed from the International Space Station via the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer on 16 July 2015. [7] [27] The "Reflight" descriptor was used because Planetary's first satellite, Arkyd 3, was destroyed on October 28, 2014, after an Antares resupply rocket exploded seconds after launch. [28]

In May 2016, the company announced it had secured US$21.1 million in Series A funding, which it said would be used to deploy and operate a constellation of Earth observation satellites, to be known as Ceres, using ten of their Arkyd-100 satellites. [29] These could have been used both for surveying asteroids and for Earth observation, and were to feature an arc-second resolution camera. [30]

In November 2016, Luxembourg invested €25 million in the company in the form of capital and research and development grants. The company announced the investment would be used for the launch of its first asteroid prospecting mission by 2020. [31] Luxembourg had recently adopted draft legislation giving private operators rights to materials mined in space. [32]

The company's second satellite launch was successfully carried out on 11 January 2018. The Arkyd 6 flight-test satellite was delivered into orbit by the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C40. [9] Arkyd-6 had originally been announced to launch in late 2015 along with a number of other CubeSats, [22] [33] then to a planned April 2016 launch, [34] and later had plans to launch on a SpaceX vehicle. [29]

In early 2018, the company failed to close a round of funding as planned, forcing layoffs. The company had planned on receiving investment from an unnamed mining company, but the investment was delayed due to budgetary reasons. The company's first asteroid prospecting mission, scheduled to launch in 2020, was delayed indefinitely. [35]

On 31 October 2018, Planetary Resources was acquired by ConsenSys, a blockchain technology company. [4] [36] ConsenSys were to operate its space initiatives out of Planetary Resources' former facility in Redmond, WA.

Plans

Planetary Resources aimed to develop a robotic asteroid mining industry. [37] [38] To achieve this, the company was operating on the basis of a long-term strategic plan.

Unveiling the Planetary Resources 3D-Printed Satellite in February 2014 (Arkyd-300 satellite bus configuration). The torus holds the propellant and provides the structure for the satellite. From left: Peter Diamandis, Chris Lewicki, and Steve Jurvetson. PlanetaryResources 3D printed satellite--201402.jpg
Unveiling the Planetary Resources 3D-Printed Satellite in February 2014 (Arkyd-300 satellite bus configuration). The torus holds the propellant and provides the structure for the satellite. From left: Peter Diamandis, Chris Lewicki, and Steve Jurvetson.

The first stage would have been a survey and analysis, using purpose-built satellites in Earth orbit, to locate the best potential targets among near-Earth asteroids. Several small space telescopes, with various sensing capabilities, were to be launched for this purpose. [37] The company website asserted that their space telescopes would be made available for hire, for private uses. The company also intended to produce satellites for sale. They introduced their first model of space telescope, the Arkyd-100 (that is, as a planned spacecraft; only prototypes of the satellite were ever built, and only two preliminary prototype testing satellites were ever launched). [40]

Later stages of the strategic plan envisioned sending survey probes to selected asteroids in order to map, including deep-scanning, and to conduct sample-and-analysis and/or sample-and-return missions. The company had stated that it could take a decade to finish identifying the best candidates for commercial mining. [11]

Ultimately, their intent was to establish fully automated/robotic asteroid-based mining and processing operations, and the capability to transport the resulting products wherever desired. In addition to the extraction of industrial and precious metals for space-based and terrestrial use, the project envisioned producing water for an orbital propellant depot. [41] [42] [43]

Arkyd-3 Flight test system

Planetary Resources packaged a number of the non-optical satellite technologies of the Arkyd-100—essentially the entire base of the Arkyd-100 satellite model revealed in January 2013, [19] but without the space telescope—into a cost-effective format for early in-space flight testing on a nanosatellite named the Arkyd 3, or A3. The Arkyd-3 testbed satellite was packaged in a 3U CubeSat form-factor of 10×10×30 centimetres (0.33×0.33×0.98 ft). The first attempt to validate and mature the technology [44] [45] [46] [47] met a setback on 28 October 2014, when the first Arkyd-3 test satellite was destroyed during launch in the explosion of the Antares rocket carrying it to the International Space Station (ISS). [48]

A second attempt to launch an Arkyd-3 spacecraft — designated A3R, or Arkyd-3 Reflight (also ARKYD-3R; COSPAR:1998-067GU; SATCAT: 40742) — took place on 14 April 2015 with a flight of SpaceX CRS-6 to the ISS. [49] After spending several months in the ISS, A3R was deployed on orbit on 16 July 2015 to begin flight testing. The test flight was expected to have an approximately 90-day duration. [22] [50] As of January 2016, the company had been silent on the progress of on-orbit testing following deployment from the ISS. [51]

The satellite subsystems tested on A3R the included the avionics, attitude determination and control system (both sensors and actuators), and integrated propulsion system that would enable proximity operations for the Arkyd line of prospectors in the future. [52] [53] A3R reentered the atmosphere on 23 December 2015. [51]

Arkyd-6 Flight test system

A second flight test unit for Planetary Resources — twice the size of A3R with a 6U form factor — was the Arkyd-6 (A6, also ARKYD 6A; COSPAR: 2018-004V; SATCAT: 43130). It was slated to test attitude control, power, and communication systems as well as a photo-display-and-retransmission system. As of July 2015, A6 was initially planned to launch in late 2015 along with a number of other cubesats. [22] [54] This date had slipped to a planned April 2016 launch. [34] In their May 2016 announcement about securing additional funding, the company indicated they had signed a launch contract for Arkyd-6 with SpaceX. [29] However, SpaceX experienced a flight anomaly in June 2015 [55] and a launch pad anomaly in September 2016, [56] each resulting in multi-month halts to SpaceX launches and a large backlog in the SpaceX launch manifest. [57]

A6 was placed into orbit on 12 January 2018 atop an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle via launch PSLV-C40. [9] [58]

Arkyd 6 decayed from orbit on February 28, 2024. [59]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Near-Earth object</span> Small Solar System body with an orbit that can bring it close to Earth

A near-Earth object (NEO) is any small Solar System body orbiting the Sun whose closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) is less than 1.3 times the Earth–Sun distance. This definition applies to the object's orbit around the Sun, rather than its current position, thus an object with such an orbit is considered an NEO even at times when it is far from making a close approach of Earth. If an NEO's orbit crosses the Earth's orbit, and the object is larger than 140 meters (460 ft) across, it is considered a potentially hazardous object (PHO). Most known PHOs and NEOs are asteroids, but about 0.35% are comets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space exploration</span> Exploration of space, planets, and moons

Space exploration is the use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space. While the exploration of space is currently carried out mainly by astronomers with telescopes, its physical exploration is conducted both by uncrewed robotic space probes and human spaceflight. Space exploration, like its classical form astronomy, is one of the main sources for space science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asteroid impact avoidance</span> Methods to prevent destructive asteroid hits

Asteroid impact avoidance encompasses the methods by which near-Earth objects (NEO) on a potential collision course with Earth could be diverted away, preventing destructive impact events. An impact by a sufficiently large asteroid or other NEOs would cause, depending on its impact location, massive tsunamis or multiple firestorms, and an impact winter caused by the sunlight-blocking effect of large quantities of pulverized rock dust and other debris placed into the stratosphere. A collision 66 million years ago between the Earth and an object approximately 10 kilometers wide is thought to have produced the Chicxulub crater and triggered the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event that is understood by the scientific community to have caused the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B612 Foundation</span> Planetary defense nonprofit organization

The B612 Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation headquartered in Mill Valley, California, United States, dedicated to planetary science and planetary defense against asteroids and other near-Earth object (NEO) impacts. It is led mainly by scientists, former astronauts and engineers from the Institute for Advanced Study, Southwest Research Institute, Stanford University, NASA and the space industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JAXA</span> Japans national air and space agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is the Japanese national air and space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions such as asteroid exploration and possible human exploration of the Moon. Its motto is One JAXA and its corporate slogan is Explore to Realize.

Orbital Sciences Corporation was an American company specializing in the design, manufacture, and launch of small- and medium- class space and launch vehicle systems for commercial, military and other government customers. In 2014, Orbital merged with Alliant Techsystems (ATK) to create a new company called Orbital ATK, which in turn was purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asteroid mining</span> Exploitation of raw materials from asteroids

Asteroid mining is the hypothetical extraction of materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASA</span> American space and aeronautics agency

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the United States' civil space program, aeronautics research and space research. Established in 1958, it succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to give the US space development effort a distinct civilian orientation, emphasizing peaceful applications in space science. It has since led most of America's space exploration programs, including Project Mercury, Project Gemini, the 1968–1972 Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle. Currently, NASA supports the International Space Station (ISS) along with the Commercial Crew Program, and oversees the development of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System for the lunar Artemis program.

The Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) missions are a proposed pair of space probes which will study and demonstrate the kinetic effects of crashing an impactor spacecraft into an asteroid moon. The mission is intended to test and validate impact models of whether a spacecraft could successfully deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel Space Telescope</span> Killer asteroid detector canceled as of 2017

The Sentinel Space Telescope was a space observatory to be developed by Ball Aerospace & Technologies for the B612 Foundation. The B612 Foundation is dedicated to protecting the Earth from dangerous asteroid strikes and Sentinel was to be the Foundation's first spacecraft tangibly to address that mission.

Deep Space Industries, or DSI, was an American privately-held company operating in the space technology and space exploration sectors. It was acquired on January 1, 2019 by Bradford Space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus Orb-3</span> Failed late 2014 cargo mission to the ISS

Orbital-3, also known as Orb-3, was an attempted flight of Cygnus, an automated cargo spacecraft developed by United States–based company Orbital Sciences, on 28 October 2014. The mission was intended to launch at 22:22:38 UTC that evening. This flight, which would have been its fourth to the International Space Station and the fifth of an Antares launch vehicle, resulted in the Antares rocket exploding seconds after liftoff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-6</span> 2015 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-6, also known as SpX-6, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station, contracted to NASA. It was the eighth flight for SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft and the sixth SpaceX operational mission contracted to NASA under a Commercial Resupply Services contract. It was docked to the International Space Station from 17 April to 21 May 2015.

The Space Safety Programme, formerly the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme, is the European Space Agency's (ESA) initiative to monitor hazards from space, determine their risk, make this data available to the appropriate authorities and where possible, mitigate the threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Near-Earth Asteroid Scout</span> Solar sail spacecraft

The Near-Earth Asteroid Scout was a mission by NASA to develop a controllable low-cost CubeSat solar sail spacecraft capable of encountering near-Earth asteroids (NEA). NEA Scout was one of ten CubeSats launched into a heliocentric orbit on Artemis 1, the maiden flight of the Space Launch System, on 16 November 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double Asteroid Redirection Test</span> 2021 NASA planetary defense mission

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a NASA space mission aimed at testing a method of planetary defense against near-Earth objects (NEOs). It was designed to assess how much a spacecraft impact deflects an asteroid through its transfer of momentum when hitting the asteroid head-on. The selected target asteroid, Dimorphos, is a minor-planet moon of the asteroid Didymos; neither asteroid poses an impact threat to Earth, but their joint characteristics made them an ideal benchmarking target. Launched on 24 November 2021, the DART spacecraft successfully collided with Dimorphos on 26 September 2022 at 23:14 UTC about 11 million kilometers from Earth. The collision shortened Dimorphos' orbit by 32 minutes, greatly in excess of the pre-defined success threshold of 73 seconds. DART's success in deflecting Dimorphos was due to the momentum transfer associated with the recoil of the ejected debris, which was substantially larger than that caused by the impact itself.

Origin Space Co., Ltd. Origin Space is the first space technology enterprise in China dedicated to the exploration, development, and utilization of space resources. Focusing on the world's most cutting-edge space resources industry, the company takes data services as an entry point. It gradually expands to on-orbit servicing and commercial exploitation of space resources through university research missions, space object observation, space object database, and other businesses.

References

  1. 1 2 ARKYD Astronautics Founded http://www.planetaryresources.com/2009/01/draft-arkyd-astronautics-founded/
  2. 1 2 John Cook (8 July 2011). "NASA vet and X Prize creator at the helm of secretive space robot startup Arkyd". Geekwire. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 Christopher Mims (18 April 2012). "Are Ross Perot Jr. and Google's Founders Launching a New Asteroid Mining Operation?". Technology Review.
  4. 1 2 Asteroid Mining Company Planetary Resources Acquired by Blockchain Firm. Mike Wall, Space.com. 2 November 2018.
  5. ↑ "Everything must boldly go! Defunct asteroid mining company's hardware put up for auction". 4 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Space Communications". 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Planetary Resources' First Spacecraft Successfully Deployed, Testing Asteroid Prospecting Technology on Orbit" . Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "NASA – NanoRacks-Planetary Resources-Arkyd-3". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 Wall, Mike (11 January 2018). "Planetary Resources' Asteroid-Mining Goals Move Closer with Satellite Launch". Space.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Asteroid Mining Venture To Start with Small, Cheap Space Telescopes". SpaceNews.com. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  11. 1 2 Amir Efrati (24 April 2012). "Start-Up Outlines Asteroid-Mining Strategy". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 Andrew Pulver (20 April 2012). "James Cameron backs space explorers Planetary Resources". The Guardian . Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  13. ↑ Adi Robertson (18 April 2012). "Mystery company backed by James Cameron and Google executives may be an asteroid mining project". The Verge . Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  14. ↑ Brian Caulfield (20 April 2012). "Planetary Resources Co-Founder Aims To Create Space 'Gold Rush'". Forbes . Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  15. ↑ Nate C. Hindman (20 April 2012). "Planetary Resources, New Space Startup, To Mine Asteroids And Sell Materials On Earth". The Huffington Post . Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  16. ↑ Bishop, Todd (11 July 2013). "Asteroid miners on board with Virgin Galactic's LauncherOne". Geekwire. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  17. ↑ Schmidt, Klaus (12 July 2013). "Planetary Resources, Inc. Announces Agreement with Virgin Galactic for Payload Services". spacefellowship. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  18. ↑ Knapp, Alex (11 July 2013). "Asteroid Mining Startup Planetary Resources Teams With Virgin Galactic". Forbes. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  19. 1 2 Heater, Bryan (21 January 2013). "Planetary Resources shows off Arkyd-100 prototype, gives a tour of its workspace". Engadget. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  20. ↑ Boyle, Alan (17 April 2013). "Big-time players are getting serious about asteroid perils and profits". NBC. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  21. ↑ Mike Wall (24 April 2013). "Private Asteroid-Mining Project Launching Tiny Satellites in 2014". Space.com. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Charlton, Jonathan (17 July 2015). "Asteroid-mining Company's 1st Spacecraft Deploys". Space News. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  23. 1 2 Romano, Benjamin (26 June 2013). "Planetary Resources Inks 3D Systems Deal, Plans Test Launch From ISS". Xonomy. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  24. ↑ Lewicki, Chris (26 May 2016). "ARKYD: A Space Telescope for Everyone Final Update and FULL Refund". Kickstarter. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  25. ↑ Chris Velasco (26 June 2013). "3D Systems Invests In Asteroid Miners Planetary Resources, Opens Up New Seed-Stage Venture Arm". Techcrunch. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  26. ↑ Levine, Alaina G. (11 July 2016). "Looking to space as an asteroid miner". Science . AAAS. Retrieved 13 July 2016. Planetary Resources—which last year deployed a demonstration vehicle into low-Earth orbit to test core avionics, navigation, and computing systems—is soon to deploy another vehicle to test remote sensing capacities. A first prospective mission is planned to take place in a couple of years.
  27. ↑ "NASA – NanoRacks-Planetary Resources-Arkyd-3". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  28. ↑ Plait, Phil (28 October 2014). "BREAKING: Antares Rocket Explodes On Takeoff". Slate. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  29. 1 2 3 Planetary Resources Raises $21.1 Million in Series A Funding; Unveils Advanced Earth Observation Capability http://www.planetaryresources.com/2016/05/planetary-resources-raises-21-1-million-in-series-a-funding-unveils-advanced-earth-observation-capability/
  30. ↑ Arkyd-100 (Ceres) http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/arkyd-100.htm
  31. ↑ Coldewey, Devin (4 November 2016). "Planetary Resources mines Luxembourg for $28M in asteroid-hunting funds". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  32. ↑ Zenners, Paul. "Luxembourg's New Space Law Guarantees Private Companies the Right to Resources Harvested in Outer Space in Accordance with International Law". newswire. Business Wire/Korea Newswire. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  33. ↑ "BlackSky Global 1, 2, 3, 4 / BlackSky Pathfinder 1, 2". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  34. 1 2 "UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL ELV LAUNCH MANIFEST (13 Jan 2016)". Steven Pietrobon. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  35. ↑ "Planetary Resources revising plans after funding setback – SpaceNews.com". 12 March 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  36. ↑ "ConsenSys Acquires Planetary Resources". Planetary Resources. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  37. 1 2 Adam Mann (23 April 2012). "Tech Billionaires Plan Audacious Mission to Mine Asteroids". Wired News . Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  38. ↑ Matthew Sparkes (24 April 2012). "Planetary Resources unveils cosmic plan 'to boldly go' and mine asteroids for gold and platinum". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  39. ↑ Diamandis, Peter (26 June 2014). "Update from Planetary Resources". Peter H. Diamandis channel. Planetary Resources. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  40. ↑ Boyle, Alan (20 June 2012). "Asteroid-hunting venture wants you ... to suggest crowdfunding projects". msnbc. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  41. ↑ "Planetary Resources believes asteroid mining has come of age". thespacereview.com. 30 April 2012.
  42. ↑ "New Study Says Asteroid Retrieval and Mining Feasible with Existing and Near-term Technologies". parabolicarc.com. 19 April 2012.
  43. ↑ John Brophy; Fred Culick; Louis Friedman & el al. (12 April 2012). "Asteroid Retrieval Feasibility Study" (PDF). Keck Institute for Space Studies, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  44. ↑ Wilhelm, Steve (16 October 2014). "First step toward asteroid mining: Planetary Resources set to launch test satellite". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  45. ↑ Asteroid-Mining Company to Deploy 1st Satellite This Summer. Space.com, Mike Wall.
  46. ↑ Planetary Resources Inks 3D Systems Deal, Plans Test Launch from ISS. Benjamin Romano, Xconomy. 26 June 2013
  47. ↑ "Antares 130 debut with fourth Cygnus ready for second attempt – NASASpaceFlight.com". www.nasaspaceflight.com. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  48. ↑ Wall, Mike (28 October 2014). "Asteroid-Mining Tech Among Casualties of Antares Rocket Explosion". Space.com. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  49. ↑ "ARKYD: A Space Telescope for Everyone" . Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  50. ↑ Planetary Resources’ First Spacecraft Successfully Deployed, Testing Asteroid Prospecting Technology on Orbit, accessed 17 July 2015.
  51. 1 2 What Happened to Planetary Resources’ Real Satellite?, Parabolic Arc, 8 January 2016, accessed 9 January 2016.
  52. ↑ Lewicki, Chris; Chris Voorhees; Spencer Anunsen (24 April 2013). "Planetary Resources One-year Update". Planetary Resources. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  53. ↑ Marks, Paul (24 October 2014). "Asteroid miners to launch first private space telescope". New Scientist. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  54. ↑ "BlackSky Global 1, 2, 3, 4 / BlackSky Pathfinder 1, 2". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  55. ↑ Stephen Clark (20 July 2015). "Support strut probable cause of Falcon 9 failure". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  56. ↑ Samantha Masunaga (9 September 2016). "Elon Musk: Launch pad explosion is 'most difficult and complex' failure in SpaceX's 14 years". LA Times. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  57. ↑ "Anomaly Updates". SpaceX. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  58. ↑ PSLV-C40/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission – ISRO. Isro.gov.in. 2018 [accessed 2018 Jan 15]. https://www.isro.gov.in/launcher/pslv-c40-cartosat-2-series-satellite-mission
  59. ↑ "ARKYD 6A". N2YO.com. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.