Consider that if 16 Psyche is indeed worth $100 Quadrillion, that is more than 1000 times the current value of the entire world economy! It is over 20 times the estimated value of all the known assets on the entire earth! A nation, or company, that can set up a base there could possibly claim it under homesteading laws. Certainly there would be lengthy legal challenges, and the long term economic results for that nation or company are unpredictable, but are potentially, um, astronomical. Certainly there are other factors to consider such as the huge increase in supply of all those natural resources would obviously decrease their value if they could even be brought to market.
Clearly we are many decades away from being able to extract raw metals and minerals from an asteroid and bring it to earth in an economical and profitable way. Especially an asteroid in the belt. It might really depend on the advancements in space propulsion, AI, robotics, 3D printing, etc. If we can send machines out there that can set up shop, use in-situ resources to develop what they need to extract, and possibly even process, resources that can then be safely sent back to earth it could be feasible.
With the right technology, the sky is literally NOT the limit!
Space/Science » in reply to I just can't accept that.
Yes and no
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- Collapse of the service access platform at Site 31 in Baikonur?
