Chinese Space Science and Technology ›› 2024, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3): 89-97.doi: 10.16708/j.cnki.1000-758X.2024.0042

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Selection of asteroid exploration targets with high mining value

LIN Qin,WANG Chao,YAO Wei   

  1. Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology,China Academy of Space Technology,Beijing 100094,China
  • Published:2024-06-25 Online:2024-06-05

Abstract:  With the increasing global metal consumption and shortage of Earth energy,the development and utilization of asteroid resources has become one of the main ways to effectively solve the problems of mineral resources and energy reserves.Firstly,according to the value,estimated profit and profit value ratio of the asteroids,the target range of asteroids with high mining value is analyzed.Then the impact of orbital characteristics,size,rotation period and other constraints on the feasibility of asteroid exploration is analyzed,and the target range of mining is determined that can be achieved in the next few decades according to technical constraints.Finally,the primary targets with high mining value and low technical constraints are integrated,and a more detailed comparative analysis of these targets is carried out according to the launch window,target resources,profit to value ratio,minimum speed increment,and so on.The space exploration objects suitable for the exploration tasks in different time periods are selected to provide reference for the selection of asteroid exploration targets with high mining value in the coming decades.

Key words: asteroid exploration, nearEarth asteroids, target selection, high mining value, cost effectiveness