Atmospheric mining
Atmospheric mining is the process of extracting valuable materials or other non-renewable resources from the atmosphere. Due to the abundance of hydrogen and helium in the outer planets of the Solar System, atmospheric mining may be easier than mining terrestrial surfaces.[1]
Contents
History of atmospheric mining
Atmospheric mining of outer planets has not yet begun.
Types of atmospheric mining
Hydrogen mining
Hydrogen may fuel chemical and nuclear propulsion.[1]
Helium mining
Helium-3 may fuel nuclear propulsion.[1]
Methane mining
Methane may fuel chemical propulsion.[1]
Exploration for atmospheric mining
Hydrogen and helium are abundant in outer planets.
| Resource | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen | 89.8 | 96.3 | 82.5 | 80.0 |
| Helium | 10.2 | 3.3 | 15.2 | 19.0 |
| Methane | 2.3 | 1.0 | ||
| Other | 0.4 | 1.0 |
Methods of atmospheric mining
Aerostats
An aerostat would be a buoyant station in the atmosphere that gathers and stores gases. A vehicle would transfer the gases from the aerostat to an orbital station above the planet.[1]
Scoopers
A scooper would be a vehicle that gathers and transfers gases from the atmosphere to an orbital station.[1]
Cruisers
A cruiser would be a vehicle in the atmosphere that gathers and stores gases. A smaller vehicle would transfer the gases from the cruiser to an orbital station.[1]
See also
References
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