14 DAY TRIAL // Working under a contract with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), a private company in Canada is now investigating possible technologies that could be used in space, for drilling and mining. This will become very important in the future, as we extend our exploitations into outer space.
Studies conducted on rocks collected from the Moon, or investigated on the surface of Mars, have revealed that an abundance of riches is hiding beneath the surface of these celestial bodies. The same could be true for other moons and planets in the solar system.
As such, it stands to reason that mining could be one of the most important activities that colonists on these space objects would perform. However, mining in microgravity, or in extremely weak gravity, is something else entirely from mining here on Earth.
In order to tease out, and compensate for, these differences, the Northern Center for Advanced Technology Inc. (NORCAT) is now starting a new research project that could make space mining a real possibility, SpaceRef reports.
If the endeavor is successful, then CSA would have a significant role to play in upcoming space exploration missions. The utilization of planetary resources for mission support is a key component of the Global Exploration Strategy, of which the space agency is also a part.
The field of In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is very vast. Once on another planet or moon, astronauts could develop production chains that would utilize existing resources for the creation of advanced goods and necessities.
In this manner, the creation of everything from air, water and fuel to bricks for hard structures would become a reality even on distant worlds. But technologies need to be ready to support such an advanced endeavor, scientists explain.
NORCAT is now working on a flight prototype sample drilling system that would be capable of conducting its mission in microgravity with the same efficiency as on Earth.
“We have just passed our first major milestone on this project. We are now working to integrate this Canadian Space Agency-funded project with the sample analysis system being built by NASA in preparation for field testing in June of 2012,” explains Dale Boucher.
“It is very exciting for NORCAT and our partners, including EVC of Val Caron and Neptec of Ottawa, to play a critical role in this new venture for the Canadian mining and aerospace sectors,” concludes the NORCAT Director of Innovation.