I'm just Tweet-skimming, and see this tweet, by @pricelessmaggie
The Tweet reads:
@pricelessmaggie
A Quixotic Quest to Mine Asteroids link via @WSJ
So, guess who is joining forces to go adventuring
in space for asteroids to bring home for their resources?
"Two Google Inc. billionaires" and none other than the filmmaker James Cameron (on Twitter as @JimCameron), that's who.
The venture, called Planetary Resources Inc., revealed little in a press release this week except to say that it would "overlay two critical sectors—space exploration and natural resources—to add trillions of dollars to the global GDP" and "help ensure humanity's prosperity." The company is formally unveiling its plans at an event Tuesday in Seattle.
Crazy or crazy-like-a-fox?
I've long held the belief that we should stop damaging our environment for more resources, and turn to the resources available for the taking (okay, it's a pretty darn big taking, I agree), in the asteroids and other solar system elements.
Yes, someone has to go out there and get the damned things, and then bring them back, either to Luna, a LaGrange point or some other cis-lunar-positioned processing station.
And then bring the resulting base materials back to Earth.
But imagine, if you will, 100 years into the future - and an Earth that is no longer being turned into a toxic-swill to provide a high standard of living for just the humans who live here.
A few pretty wealthy fellows think that this is good bet.
A Forbes staff writer, Brian Caulfield, writes this article, "Planetary Resources Co-Founder Aims To Create Space 'Gold Rush'", also covering the story...
Earlier this year, entrepreneur and X-Prize impresario Peter Diamandis hinted he was about to unveil something amazing: a startup that will mine asteroids for precious metals.
“Since my childhood I’ve wanted to do one thing, be an asteroid miner,” Diamandis told Forbes. “So stay tuned on that one.”
It looks like Diamandis may be about to push the launch button on the idea.
Backed by a group including Google Chief Executive Larry Page, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, filmmaker James Cameron, former Microsoft Chief Architect Charles Simonyi, and Ross Perot Jr., Planetary Ventures will unveil its plans Tuesday at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
Google billionaires, James Cameron, an X-Prize "Impresario". Pretty impressive group.
I can't wait for the 24th of April, to hear the rest of the story.
h/t to Paul Harvey
