Dumb like foxes

There are so many new programs for Earth-observing satellites, it's hard to imagine how the market could support them all. The number of national space programs is astonishing (Australia, in contrast, sees no value in such things). Then there's Skybox Imaging, whose unique business case includes data mining and HDTV from space in addition to the mundane imaging market. 

Lest you think that the supply side is saturated, check out how the asteroid miners at Planetary Resources are positioning their Arkyd 100 imager for the same market. This should silence some of the skeptics: PRI is not going to wait for decades until the profits roll in from platinum-containing asteroids (don't hold your breath); they are putting out dual use products that can provide near-term revenue.

Mark Sonter, director of the other asteroid mining company, Deep Space Iindustries, is an expert on the history of mining. He gave a fascinating lecture at our Off-Earth Mining Forum here in Sydney. (His slides haven't been released yet; keep checking the link if you're interested.) One of his main points was that mundane, run-of-the-mill terrestrial mining projects span many decades. There is thus no reason to be contemptuous of off-Earth mining efforts simply because of the time scales being discussed.

DSI does not mention the Earth imaging market in their business case. But they do mention an intriguing mid-term revenue source: replenishing the propellant tanks on GEO satellites. This will not come to fruition as quickly as the imaging market, but it could represent a viable business, given that every kilogram of stuff DSI provides avoids the $40,000 cost of launching it to GEO. And recall that NASA is developing the other end of the technology: the robotics to put the propellant into the satellites.

Asteroid miners: dumb like foxes. I've been trying to get this message out in all the radio and TV interviews I've been giving. And the most important reason for that is to keep the flow of engineers coming--our bright young people need to know that this is real, and not be discouraged by the skepticism.