The Modern-Day Gold Rush

As time progresses and humanity becomes more and more technologically advanced, the finite natural resources of Earth start to dwindle, eventually coming to a point of extreme scarcity. Whether that is the cobalt used in batteries to power our phones, or the nickel used in rocket engines to carry humans to the moon and beyond, Earth’s natural supply of resources cannot sustain humanity’s needs for much longer. However, there is a way to supply the innovations of the future for much longer: asteroid mining. My proposed Radioisotope Powered System will set out on a mission to mine near-Earth asteroids and extract the valuable materials within them. Asteroids, such as the 1986 DA Asteroid, are composed of precious metals, such as iron, nickel, and cobalt, which can be extracted and brought back to Earth. The metals collected from this mission can be sold off or used directly to aid subsequent missions in space. Throughout my entire life, I have always been extremely careful and meticulous in every action I take, creating a system for how to accomplish even the most basic tasks. This mission is no exception to my methodical mindset and will be designed with safety and efficiency top-of-mind.